How can research improve reading instruction?
EK: We haven’t had in the past the kind of science that we can rely on. I think the way to neutralize the pendulum swings in reading instruction is to continue to rely on solid science. I mean, that’s what happened in medicine, that’s what happened in other disciplines. We have ten years of research that we can draw on. What’s critical is that we continue to invest in these ten years of research. In fact, I would argue that we need to establish a registry of knowledge. Not unlike what’s done in chemistry where we register the knowledge base so that we can continue to rely on this foundational knowledge. I think that will give us a chance to establish education as having some reasonable science to draw upon to make decisions about kids’ lives. Edward Kame’enui is professor and director of the Institute for the Development of Educational Achievement (IDEA) at the University of Oregon. He served on the Committee on the Prevention of Reading Difficulties in Young Children of the National R
