Why Johnny Can't Read

Book excerpt: The classic bestseller on phonics—the method that can teach children to read in six weeks. In 1955, Dr. Rudolf Flesch published Why Johnny Can’t Read, a sharp criticism of teaching methods being used in American schools—methods, he argued, that were failing children and lowering the nation’s literacy rates in comparison to other countries. He championed a return to phonics, which emphasized learning letters and their sounds rather than trying to memorize whole words and recognize them on sight. Time magazine reported that the book would “shock many a US parent and educator”—and indeed, it remained a bestseller for thirty-seven weeks and changed the way reading was taught. Today, this method of teaching is recommended by the U.S. Department of Education, and for parents who want to teach their child to read—whether in a homeschooling setting, in the preschool years, or as a supplement to classroom lessons—Why Johnny Can’t Read contains complete materials and instructions. “Forthright, clear, and persuasive.” —Language “For use by parents who will be able to help their children at home, with the primer contained in the book.” —Kirkus Reviews