Why do so many of us have such a complex relationship with reading?

I have some certificates that mean more to me than my degrees do.

Let me explain.

Neither of the degree programs I went through for Education and Library Science taught me the science of reading.

Let that sink.

Reading well is about the marriage between knowing the technical code of the language and knowing the meaning that is being conveyed through it. But unfortunately too often only one partner in the marriage is present in instruction and teacher training.

We grew up clowning folks who needed “hooked on phonics,” but the research shows we all needed to be strategically taught that science in the early ages. As a result, some of the literacy needs my students had were not met with best practices and opportunities for them to become less stressed, resentful, and fearful towards reading.

Reading is a skill necessary for intellectual, spiritual, and economic development. This course I recently completed (courtesy of the job) gave me clearer pathways to help elementary and secondary students access the foundations of reading in ways that promote lifelong learning. Thank you, CORE!