Does phonics help or hinder comprehension?

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Debbie_Hepplewhite
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Does phonics help or hinder comprehension?

Post by Debbie_Hepplewhite »

I'm linking here to another thread but under the simple, overarching title of this thread, 'Does phonics help or hinder comprehension?'.

This is because it is very common indeed for the phonics critics or detractors (including academics in the field of literacy who should surely be better informed) from the promotion of systematic synthetic phonics and uptake of a universal phonics check to decry phonics on the basis that it is not really reading and that it works against comprehension.

So, look here:

http://www.iferi.org/iferi_forum/viewto ... ?f=2&t=935
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Debbie_Hepplewhite
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Joined: Sat May 23, 2015 4:42 pm

Re: Does phonics help or hinder comprehension?

Post by Debbie_Hepplewhite »

Researcher Kathy Rastle summarises the findings of her research in SEN Magazine:
In support of phonics



New research confirms the effectiveness of phonics as a method of teaching reading, writes Kathy Rastle

The subject of phonics – the government backed method of teaching reading – is one that still stirs great debate, despite strong and building evidence of its effectiveness. A result of this evidence is that in England, using phonics instruction is a legal requirement in state-funded primary schools.
https://senmagazine.co.uk/home/articles ... of-phonics
Meaning and comprehension

Because phonics focuses on the relationship between print and sound, many people argue that it will do nothing to improve reading comprehension, and may even hinder it. This study is important because it shows that claim is false.
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