Rethinking Learning to Read

by Harriet Pattison, Alan Thomas (Foreword)

This research seeks to be a map about the possibilities that surround learning to read … the sat nav tells you what to do and how to do it in order to progress from A to B. By contrast this book is an exploratory map, a return to the rough ground and as such an opportunity to genuinely rethink learning to read “School based pedagogy is not the only way.” “It was as though a switch was thrown.” “A huge mystery to me.” “It is actually possible for teaching methods to make it harder for a child to learn to read.” Home educating families quoted in the book. ‘This meticulously researched book challenges assumptions about learning, schooling and educational suggesting that we need to rethink current pieties in all of these areas. Anyone with serious interest in what education is today should read it carefully.’ Dr Nick Peim, School of Education, University of Birmingham

Genres: Parenting, Education

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2016

Reviews

[Ross Mountney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look at how children learn to read - for themselves mostly and can do so without interference, if only they were allowed, by the provision of an encouraging and literate climate! Based on research into how home educated children learn to read it suggests we rethink our out of date ideas about it - and learning in general. A must read for all parents and educational professionals.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my dissertation. Gosh, am I glad this literature exists - as a student, but also as a home educating mother. The pressure to conform to the neoliberal agenda through the action of intervening on my 7 year old's 'slow' uptake to reading has finally been liberated. Thank you

[Darlingia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol Black writes in her essay A Thousand Rivers, "people today do not even know what children are actually like. They only know what children are like in schools." In this enlightening book Harriet Pattison turns her focus away from children in schools and looks at children out of schools, home educating families, and the varied ways that they learn how to read. She doesn't have any answers, only questions, and asks us to rethink learning to read. It is not a linear one-size-fits-all process.