The story behind Sold a Story

Summary

The podcast 'Sold a Story' uncovers how flawed methods of teaching reading have affected students worldwide for decades. Education reporter Emily Hanford explores how, despite scientific research supporting phonics-based teaching, many schools have embraced ineffective approaches. Through personal stories, including the experiences of the Gibson family with dyslexia, the podcast investigates how this widespread issue has led to a decline in reading proficiency. As the podcast sparks changes in educational practices, it highlights the power of journalism in influencing real-world change, with many school districts now adopting evidence-based reading instruction.

Takeaways

• 😀 Emily Hanford, an education reporter, investigates how kids are being taught to read, focusing on the flaws in reading instruction systems.
• 😀 Over a third of fourth graders struggle to read at a basic level, highlighting the widespread issue in literacy education.
• 😀 The 'Sold a Story' podcast examines how children are not being properly taught to read, with a major focus on phonics and sound-based learning.
• 😀 Rob and Maggie Gibson, parents of five children with dyslexia, share their personal struggle with a school system that failed to address their children's needs.
• 😀 The podcast explores the historical timeline of reading instruction, tracing the evolution of teaching methods and their effectiveness over the years.
• 😀 Schools have been promoting ineffective reading methods for over 50 years, causing significant setbacks in students' literacy development.
• 😀 Kids with dyslexia are compared to 'canaries in the coal mine,' signaling larger systemic issues with how reading is taught in schools.
• 😀 The story dives into the influence of one company and a team of authors who played a major role in spreading a flawed approach to teaching reading.
• 😀 The importance of phonics as a core skill for reading is emphasized, as children need to sound out words to develop strong reading abilities.
• 😀 The podcast has led to significant changes in how reading is taught across the U.S., with many school districts updating their textbooks and teaching methods to align with the 'science of reading.'

Q & A

What is the main focus of the podcast 'Sold a Story'?

The podcast 'Sold a Story' investigates how teaching children to read went wrong and the impact of misguided teaching methods, focusing on the gap between scientific research on reading and actual teaching practices.

Why did Emily Hanford get interested in how kids learn to read?

Emily Hanford became interested in how kids learn to read after discovering that more than a third of fourth graders can't read at a basic level, which prompted her investigation into the effectiveness of current reading instruction methods.

What did Emily Hanford find in her investigation of reading instruction?

Emily Hanford discovered that, in schools across the country and around the world, children were not being taught to read effectively. Instead, they were being taught to sound like they could read, without mastering the foundational skills like phonics.

How does the podcast relate to the struggles faced by children with dyslexia?

The podcast highlights the experiences of families with children who have dyslexia, such as the Gibsons, who struggled with ineffective reading instruction. It suggests that dyslexic children are like 'canaries in the coal mine' revealing broader issues in how reading is taught.

What role did the Gibsons play in the podcast's exploration of reading instruction?

The Gibsons, who have five children with dyslexia, share their personal experiences of trying to get proper reading support for their children, only to encounter resistance from schools that denied the existence of the problem.

What is the 'timeline' referenced in the podcast?

The 'timeline' refers to an organized record that traces the evolution of ideas about how children learn to read and the methods used to teach reading, dating back to the 1600s, and illustrating the disconnect between scientific research and educational practices.

What did the podcast uncover about the role of authors and companies in shaping reading instruction?

The podcast investigates how a team of authors and a particular company influenced school districts and educators by promoting a reading instruction method that wasn't aligned with scientific research, ultimately taking over educational practices.

What is the core difference between the reading instruction approach discussed in the podcast and phonics-based instruction?

The approach discussed in the podcast suggests that beginning readers don’t need to sound out words, which contrasts with phonics-based instruction, which emphasizes phonetic skills as essential for becoming a proficient reader.

How has the 'Sold a Story' podcast impacted educational practices?

The podcast has led to widespread changes in educational practices, including the adoption of scientifically backed reading instruction methods in school districts across the country. Many states have also begun changing their reading instruction approaches to align with the science of reading.

What is the significance of the letter from George W. Bush mentioned in the podcast?

The letter from George W. Bush highlights the podcast's impact, with the former president acknowledging the value of the research and its importance in reshaping how reading is taught, demonstrating the power of journalism to influence public discourse and policy.