We’ve been hearing a lot recently about how elementary school students’ reading scores declined drastically as a result of pandemic shutdowns. And in the US, the southeastern (aka deep south) states have historically had low reading scores, even pre-pandemic.
So, imagine everyone’s surprise to hear about the “Mississippi Miracle,” in which several deep south states have dramatically improved their 1-4th graders’ reading scores, despite the pandemic. “Mississippi went from being ranked the second-worst state in 2013 for fourth-grade reading to 21st in 2022. Louisiana and Alabama, meanwhile, were among only three states to see modest gains in fourth-grade reading during the pandemic, which saw massive learning setbacks in most other states.” (AP article)
What explains this improvement in reading abilities in historically under-performing states? Two common-sense things: (1) a focus on phonics, and (2) early screenings for struggling readers and learning disabilities. These states have trained their elementary school teachers in the science of teaching reading (formerly known as phonics), and have provided targeted resources to schools with the lowest reading scores. At least one state (Mississippi) has also stated clear expectations for students, parents and teachers: children will meet a minimum standard of reading abilities by the end of third grade or be held back.
One other critical component of the “Mississippi miracle” is its student-centered nature. Teachers meet children where they are in reading, and devise strategies to help each student address their own personal challenge(s) in learning reading. That could be a learning disability like dyslexia; it could be lack of opportunity to read and practice; it could be not knowing the basics.
Teaching phonics is a method well-suited to online learning, whether used by a teacher in a physical classroom to maximize the use of limited time, or whether used by teachers and parents as an adjunct to in-class learning. Find tried-and-true online phonics teaching resources (some free, some at a small charge) here and here and here.
