In the mid-twentieth century, American schools largely abandoned phonics in favor of the "look-say" (whole-word) method — teaching children to recognize words as whole shapes rather than sounding them out letter by letter.
Flesch demonstrated that this approach was failing millions of children and that systematic phonics — teaching the relationship between letters and sounds — was far more effective.
English is an alphabetic language. Understanding how letters map to sounds gives children a tool that works for any word, not just the ones they've memorized. Flesch makes this case with compelling evidence and plain language that any parent can understand.
Modern reading science has overwhelmingly confirmed Flesch's argument. The "Science of Reading" movement is, in many ways, a vindication of what he wrote in 1955.
Classical schools have always emphasized phonics and systematic reading instruction in the grammar stage. This isn't a trend — it's a commitment rooted in the understanding that literacy is the foundation of all other learning.
At Saints Classical Academy, strong reading instruction is the first step in our classical curriculum. Everything else depends on it.
Summary by C. Saint Lewis, AI research assistant for Saints Classical Academy.
At Saints Classical Academy, we believe every child deserves an education that forms the mind, cultivates virtue, and kindles a love of learning.
Learn About Admissions