Many school districts across this state are currently beginning the switch to a Science of Reading approach to reading instruction that emphasizes phonics. The Santa Barbara school district is in the process of introducing a new Science of Reading program called Wit and Wisdom in the elementary grades. It helps teachers train children in the basics of phonics, the code that enables children to connect printed words to English speech sounds.
Many other school districts across this state are currently beginning this kind of switch. to reading instruction that emphasizes phonics. Learning phonics in English is very complex for young children because English is a very complex language, having evolved from a variety of different basic languages across the centuries.
Many children come to school without any training in phonics or preparation for learning to read at home. They often require one-on-one tutoring to make this transition. Without that preparation, these children often sit in group classroom instruction with very little understanding of what is being taught.