Why Schoolchildren Can’t Read by Bonnie Macmillan
I first read this book soon after it was published in 1997, and over 20 years later it still holds up, in fact it is somewhat disheartening how current it really is. Dr Macmillan’s analysis of the research is insightful and clear making this a very accessible book for anyone with an interest in the teaching of reading. The Executive Summary is below followed by links to pdfs for each chapter.
Executive Summary:
Learning to read is the most important task of early childhood. Success or failure in this skill has a profound effect on the future of every child. All parents, indeed all of us, should be concerned that the methods used to teach this crucial skill are the best possible.
In Why Schoolchildren Can’t Read , Dr Bonnie Macmillan describes the findings of the most up-to-date experimental research on beginning reading instruction. Research points decisively to the need for direct teaching of certain key skills in order to produce maximum reading success.
However, an examination of how children are taught to read in England’s primary schools reveals a large discrepancy between the methods currently used and those which research demonstrates are the most effective.
The consequences of this alarming gap between reading research and teaching practice are seen in the rising number of schoolchildren who are failing to learn how to read.
This book provides answers to some of the most controversial issues in education today. What are the causes of the disturbing incidence of reading failures? Why are the best methods to teach reading not being used in our primary schools?
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: The Essentials of Reading
- Chapter 2: Focus on Teaching Materials
- Chapter 3: The Code-Emphasis Method
- Chapter 4: The Whole-Word Method
- Chapter 5: Pupils: Similarities versus Differences
- Chapter 6: The Politics of Reading Assessment
- Chapter 7: Conclusion Why Schoolchildren Can’t Read: Problem and Solution
- Bibliography