The Reading Instruction Show

This current podcast looks at another un-understanding that has been fabricated out of tiny bits of ignorance, misconceptions, and intellectual sloth. This is the fallacy that whole language has somehow been debunked … that whole language is a failure … that research has proven whole language to be ineffective … I would again respond: nonsense, twaddle, and poppycock. So much nonsense, twaddle, an...

This current podcast looks at another un-understanding that has been fabricated out of tiny bits of ignorance, misconceptions, and intellectual sloth. This is the fallacy that whole language has somehow been debunked … that whole language is a failure … that research has proven whole language to be ineffective … I would respond: nonsense, twaddle, and poppycock. So much nonsense, twaddle, and popp...

The premise that schools are failing, teachers are doing a horrible job, and professors like me are ruining America and sending our economy into decline, is a myth perpetuated by those with political and for-profit agendas. If you think I'm wrong, show me some research-based data showing said decline and some isolated variables. Show me some valid, reliable, comparable data, collected over time, t...

This podcast describes the type of literacy learning environments and instruction that enable young children to develop their full writing potential. In a good literacy learning environment there is (a) lots of talk, (b) lots of writing, and (c) lots of reading. There is also direct and systematic instruction done in the context of authentic writing.

In the usual practice of academia, research is used to create theories. Theories are then used to explain a set of facts and to understand phenomena. And as new data is encountered and as old theories become obsolete, these theories either evolve or are they’re replaced by new theories. This is the natural way of things. All along the way, there is plenty of rigorous academic debate and respectful...

Writing emerges naturally as children are exposed to real-life writing, as they use writing for real-life experiences, and as other humans listen and respond to their ideas. The podcast explains.

In reviewing some schools’ RTI plans, a standardized reading achievement test is used as a screening device. Students are put in Tiers I, II, or III reading intervention groups based on their percentile ranking on standardized tests. For example, if you’re in the 10th percentile or below, you go to Tier III, the 40th percentile or below you go to Tier II, and the 60th percentile or below you go to...

A learning disability only exists within a school environment. Outside the narrow confines of school, I’ve seen many with identified learning disabilities being highly successful in their professional and personal lives. This was only after shaking off the stigma of the label that had been given to them by the educational system. How dare we define anybody’s potential. What is defined as a learnin...

MTSS or Multi-tiered systems of support claims to be based on scientific research and use only evidence-based practices. MTSS originated in the swamps of Special Ed World. PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports) and ABA (applied behavioral analysis) are used with MTSS to make some behaviors disappear and others appeart. Magic. Claims are made that these are “evidence-based”.

Can a practice really be said to be evidence-based if it only looks at a certain type of evidence? Can it really be scientifically-based reading research if only certain methods are allowed to ask certain types of questions? And that’s the whole problem with the liturgical chants of “evidence” and “evidence-based” and “scientifically-based research” made by the Science of Reading Comedy Club to su...

In the education world, the term “evidence-based” is often thrown around carelessly and used to end the discussion. But the question I would posit (and pardon me for being so inquisitive) is this: When you say a practice or strategy is “evidence-based” have you actually looked at the evidence of the evidence-base? Or are you just using the term because you heard somebody else use it?

There’s a difference between collecting data and research. While the research process includes data collection, collecting data is not research. The research process includes data. But collecting data is not research. In the world of science and academia, research is not research unless and until it has been subjected to blind peer review. Collecting data is not research. Confusing data with resea...

When people discover I have a religious view that is not in alignment with their own, there are three things that often happen. First, they try to convince you of the wrongness of their view and the rightness of their own. Second, they call you names. And third, they pray for you. This podcast focuses on the third. And yes, I realize I am sometimes guilty of one and two above.

When people realize I have a different perspective on reading instruction, politics, or religion, two things sometimes happen. First, they try to convince you of your wrongness and get you to be more aligned with their own views. And second, they sometimes use labels and call you names. The third thing only happens with religion - they pray for you.

The National Reading Panel identified 5 pillars of good reading instruction. They were a bit misguided in their methodology. As a result, their 5 pillars are 5 pillars short. This podcast describes the 10 pillars of good reading instruction

This is the introduction to my book, 'Coming Out of a Different Sort of Closet Living With Mental Health Issues'. Here I introduce myself along with an unconscious projection named, Gerry. This is a different sort of podcast for me. If you would my to continue along this line, please send me an email: andrew.axe.johnson@gmail.com

1. Literacy standards (like the CCSS) should not be designed by literacy amateurs (as literacy standards most often are). There are some things that should be left to educational professionals (like classroom teachers). 2. Expository text calls for an efferent response. Narrative text calls for an aesthetic response. 3. In our approaches to literacy instruction, we must always focus on real-world...

In being and becoming teachers of writing we must allow spaces for bad teaching to occur. This doesn’t mean I’m advocating bad teaching. But if you take risks and try new things, you are bound to have lessons that don’t go just the way you would have liked. Risks and experimentation are essential components of growth and evolution. Hence, if you’ve never had a bad lesson, you haven’t tried enough...

When writing the draft, the goal is to spew. Open the spigot. Let the ideas flow. This is something you will continually need to remind your students to do. Get the ideas out before you lose them. There will be plenty of time to go back and rearrange, shape, and even throw them out later. For now, get them out. The specific steps for drafting are listed here: Steps for drafting 1. Don’t think 2. G...

Across the country, states are considering a Republican-based education bill promoted as the “Parents Bill of Rights”. This bill would promote “curriculum transparency”, allowing parents to review school curriculum “without cost and immediately upon request, and add a notice requirement that requires schools to make “reasonable arrangements” for alternative instruction when families object to what...

To teach authentically is to teach from one’s philosophy. You align your actions with your values and your beliefs. However, as holistic educators, we’re sometimes asked to adopt philosophies to which we do not ascribe or to use methods that are not consistent with our philosophic framework. To teach from another’s philosophy is to become a dancing monkey. I am not a dancing monkey. Dancing monkey...

The number monkeys want to use standardized tests and a business paradigm to "fix" education. However, if we want fundamental change in the quality of education, then we must focus on the quality of education. We need to take a qualitative look at the teaching methodologies and curriculum that are used in schools and classrooms and make changes in the way we do education. All the number-monkeying...

This podcast examines teacher writing prompts. Writing prompts should not be relied upon; however, they can be an effective tool to use occasionally. However, keep in mind that the ultimate goal of a good writing teacher is to be prompt-free. As well, there are good writing prompts and not-good writing prompts. This podcast looks at each..

Teachers exist in a school context which exists within a systems context. A system is an interacting and interdependent set of elements working together to form a unified whole. To fully understand the obstacles teachers face and why some are leaving education, one must first understand the system in which they exist. Arthur Combs (1999) described two common types of systems used in organizations:...

Teachers exist in a school context which exists within a systems context. A system is an interacting and interdependent set of elements working together to form a unified whole. To fully understand the obstacles teachers face and why some are leaving education, one must first understand the system in which they exist. Arthur Combs (1999) described two common types of systems used in organizations:...