Why You Shouldn't Teach Reading First: The Dangers of Memorization
“She’s already reading!” says your best friend, whose child is mere days or weeks apart from yours in age. Oh, and they just turned three.
Parents are, by nature, proud of their children. After walking and talking, what is the next proud accomplishment parents celebrate? Reading. Or… the appearance of reading. Did you ever stop to think how reading is not a natural human ability? The brain is more powerful than we will ever understand. What’s wrong with pushing the little ones to read?
What Happens When Your Child Doesn't Read Early?
Perhaps you’re here because having an uber-early “reader” was not your experience. Perhaps early reading was your experience with one child, and now you are baffled, frustrated, and concerned about another. Why isn’t he picking it up like his older sister? She’s a voracious reader… unquenchable appetite for books. Should I be worried?
What happens when your child does not read early, or at all?
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects reading and spelling. It can pose significant challenges for children taught to read using traditional methods. Not all struggling readers are dyslexic, but there is a sure way to mask a need for reading intervention.
The Deception of Memorization
By unwittingly teaching children to memorize word shapes while “teaching reading,” they bypass the necessary step of honing phonemic awareness. In other words, their recognition of individual sounds and how they interact is suppressed before it is given an opportunity to develop. The letter names in the alphabet are memorized in place of teaching how individual sounds work together in decodable patterns.
Teaching “reading” without teaching structured phonics is memorization. Memorizing word shapes without a deep understanding of sound-symbol relationships only reinforces a superficial skill. So, what? This approach may allow them to “read” familiar words, but it does not equip them with the tools they need to decode unfamiliar words or comprehend complex texts. If you’re the parent of a dyslexic learner, you know that grade-level texts are even too hard for many.
The Importance of a Structured Approacheception of Memorization
Structured literacy instruction involves teaching reading, writing, and spelling sequentially, and to an extent, simultaneously. For example, letter sounds and shapes are introduced individually, with a focus on handwriting and proper letter formation for building muscle memory. Direction is emphasized, and names and sounds are spoken aloud. Vowel-consonant (VC) and consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) syllables are used for spelling and reading when initial concepts are introduced.
I am not wholly opposed to the exposure afforded by the whole language approach (“balanced literacy”). That said, readers will, ideally, only read concepts they have already learned to write and spell. Short, common, non-phonetic words are taught separately, but alongside, phonological concepts so that learners can begin to read level-appropriate texts.
This approach helps children develop a strong foundation in phonics, phonemic awareness, and fluency. The goal is for all learners to become independent readers and spellers.
The Power of a Multi-Sensory Approach
Traditional methods often prioritize teaching reading first, followed by writing the alphabet and rote spelling. Little attention is given to fine motor skills for proper letter formation and building muscle memory for uniform writing. The basic overview approach only works for some learners, and dyslexic learners struggle the most. Uniformity is especially important for learners with dyslexia and dysgraphia, for whom reading left to right must be emphasized.
A multi-sensory approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of these skills. By engaging multiple senses, this approach can support all learners in the development of strong language, literacy, and communication skills.
The Implications of Low Literacy
The consequences of low literacy are far-reaching. If we take a step back from early and middle-grade learners who are “still struggling to read” and fast-forward to high school and then adulthood, the reality can be less than ideal.
Empower Your Child with Tools that Work
If you would like clarity on your child’s skills, download our free “Reluctant Reader Assessment”. This assessment can help you identify literacy skills that may need work. By taking action early, you can help your child overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. Investing in your child’s literacy skills is an investment in their future. We are here to support you along the way.