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Why Massachusetts needs a Literacy Law?

a group of children are sitting at their desks in a classroom learning to read and write.

 

Why Massachusetts needs a Literacy Law?

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

68% of our 4th and 8th graders have failed for many years to pass proficiency tests in reading, and 30% of these children lack basic reading skills. These statistics come from NAEP, National Assessment of Educational Progress, which tests 4th and 8th graders every year.


WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM? 

INEFFECTIVE, FAULTY READING METHODS!

Emily Hanford of American Public Media presented the facts clearly in her six, 2023 podcasts. Despite research by Stanislas Dehaene and Mark Seidenberg on the Science of Reading, educators continued to teach various forms of “3 Cueing” reading methods like those of Lucy Caulkins, Fountas & Pinnell, and Reading Recovery. Educators, including university professors, also ignored advice from the National Reading Panel of 2002 and the the National Institute of Health for Children because these institutions found that the best way to teach reading is with phonics. What a tragedy!


HOW CAN YOU HELP SOLVE THE READING CRISIS?

SUPPORT THE NEW BILLS ABOUT PHONICS NOW IN THE MA LEGISLATURE BY CONTACTING YOUR MA STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND YOUR MA STATE SENATOR TO VOTE FOR THESE BILLS.

Both S 263 & H579 are called: “An Act To Promote High-Quality Literacy Instruction in all MA Schools.” These two bills will enable our MA children to receive the same benefits as those children in 31 other states that recently passed a similar law.


WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A NEW LITERACY LAW?

  • 66% or more of our students will read at grade level or above.
  • Special education costs will drop dramatically because fewer students will require costly support programs.
  • Children will obtain an equal opportunity to learn to read through phonics, a civic right.
  • Bright children will no longer say, I’m stupid because I can’t read.
  • Children will not develop anxiety and depression because they cannot read.
  • Children will not be bullied and threatened because they cannot read.
  • Children will not misbehave intentionally to avoid reading and homework.
  • Children will not be high school drop outs to avoid failing MCAS tests.
  • Children seeking to solve their academic problems through addiction to alcohol and drugs will be reduced if school failure were the root cause.
  • End the “pipeline to prison” because non-readers cannot earn money.


TOGETHER WE CAN PASS THIS LAW TO BETTER EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.


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THE IMPORTANCE OF PHONICS After phonemic awareness, the most important skill set from the Science of Reading is phonics. This subject includes sound to symbol correspondence which translates to: learn the sound or sounds of each letter or letter combination and learn when to use that sound. Then blend sounds into syllables to achieve reading and spelling accuracy. Sue’s Strategies® provides the best and quickest ways to reach reading and spelling literacy. In addition to offering free, instructional videos and blogs, Sue publishes many texts: Phonetic Flashcards to Remember contains 99 illustrated flashcards for sound to symbol correspondence and usage; PSS for Phonics explains and illustrates the patterns based on position that a letter or letter combination will follow; Syllable Practice for Reading Accuracy & Fluency provides practice exercises at 6 different levels, from 2 syllable words to 6 syllable words. How does anyone know how to spell the “K” sound if four options exist: C, K, CK, CH? Kick Kyle, the cat, off the couch. Teach him to behave before Christmas. Sue’s Strategies® techniques reveal the answers. Does your school teach phonics?
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