Local experts agree on the Science of Reading method

POLAND, Ohio (WKBN) – Michelle Elia, one of Ohio’s foremost experts on the Science of Reading, and Maria Pappas who helped implement the Science of Reading in the Youngstown City Schools, recently met to discuss the method.

They agree with Governor DeWine’s assessment that the Science of Reading , sounding words out, is the best way to teach children to read. DeWine presented the method at a literacy roundtable at Youngstown State University last week.

“He is spot on about the science of reading. I can tell you that,” said Pappas.

“And thank goodness our governor has been so fantastic in saying this needs to change, but I know number one, that the change needs to start in higher education, it needs to change in schools, and they need money to do it,” Elia said.

Elia explained how in the 1990s, schools started using the balanced literacy approach to reading which is a meaning-based approach that de-emphasizes the teaching of sound-letter relationships, or phonics.

“We switched to what was supposed to be joyful and wonderful and create this love of literacy and we forgot to teach kids how to read,” Elia said.

“In the Science of Reading that word recognition piece is an ongoing part in instruction,” said Pappas.

There’s an equation for the Science of Reading: WR times LC equals RC–or word recognition (how letters and combinations of letters sound) times language comprehension (vocabulary, sentence structure, and background knowledge) equals reading comprehension.

“It’s a simple combination. You need word recognition as well as the language comp which is vocabulary and background knowledge,” said Pappas.

“This neurological pathway from letters to sounds doesn’t exist from birth. If you don’t teach it, as a teacher, it doesn’t happen,” said Elia.

The method is taught by using specific books.

“There is no such thing as a perfect curriculum. Let me be really clear here. It doesn’t exist. But, we now have in Ohio a list of curricula, plural, that districts can choose from that are aligned with the Science of Reading,” Elia said.

Elia also had something to say to teachers who hold onto methods other than the Science of Reading.

“We’ve got to let this go. If this was the medical profession, we’d be held to malpractice, right?” Elia said.

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