OP / ED
As a superintendent with years of experience in Texas public schools, I have seen firsthand the critical role of literacy in shaping our students’ futures. When a student has a deep-rooted understanding of literacy, the student thrives in most academic areas; contrarily, the student lacking literacy skills often struggles.
In recent years, we’ve seen an increased focus on evidence-based reading instruction, specifically what’s known as the “science of reading.” This research-backed approach offers invaluable insights into how students learn to read and which methods yield the best outcomes. At the core of this is phonics, a process that ensures emerging readers gain the essential skills needed to become proficient in both reading and spelling.
What is phonics? Phonics is a method of teaching reading, writing and spelling by focusing on the relationship between sounds and letters or letter combinations. It involves systematic, explicit instruction, which is proven to be the most effective way to teach phonics. This approach helps students establish a clear sequence for learning the relationships between sounds and the letters or combinations of letters that represent those sounds.
Phonics instruction starts by teaching students to master the most common sounds that make up words. This process advances as students become familiar with more complex patterns in language, enabling them to decode new words and improve their spelling skills. Importantly, the ability to connect sounds with letters does not come naturally to most students, it must be taught explicitly and consistently to ensure long-term literacy success. This method empowers students to break down words into sounds, which is essential for both reading comprehension and writing proficiency.
A Foundation for Students Having worked with a diverse range of students across Texas, I’ve witnessed the power of the science of reading to truly transform lives. It’s not just about helping children recognize words on a page; instead, it is about fostering a deep understanding of both decoding (the ability to sound out words) and linguistic comprehension (understanding spoken language). Phonics is the bridge that connects these two essential skills, and it forms the foundation of reading success.
The student population is incredibly diverse in Texas, with a range of linguistic and socioeconomic backgrounds. A structured phonics instruction program is vital to the success of these emerging readers. A well-designed phonics program ensures that no matter where a child starts, they have access to high-quality literacy education that sets them up for academic success in the future.
Supporting Struggling Readers For struggling readers, some of whom face challenges related to low-socioeconomic backgrounds or learning disabilities, regular phonics instruction has been a revolutionary change. In my district, we are increasingly focused on targeted interventions that incorporate phonics to bridge the achievement gap. With these tools in place, fewer students will struggle with reading and spelling, ensuring that no student is left behind.
Research from the National Reading Panel found that well-planned explicit phonics instruction led to higher scores in both reading and spelling across diverse student populations, with improvement rates as high as 32% compared to non-phonics-based methods. The use of phonics instruction is critical for closing literacy gaps and ensuring that every student, regardless of their starting point, has the opportunity to succeed.
Phonics and Literacy Educators in Texas carry the responsibility of preparing our students for a future in which literacy is more important than ever. By making phonics a priority and embedding it as part of the science of reading, we are laying the groundwork for lifelong success.
If you’re a parent, I encourage you to ask your school district how they use the science of reading and phonics-based instruction to build a strong foundation for your child’s literacy journey. It’s an investment not only in their academic future but also in their personal growth as successful, contributing members of society.
Dr. Brandon Enos is the superintendent at Cushing ISD in Cushing, TX. He is a strong advocate for Texas Public School teachers and students.
