Why Johnny Can't Read
and what you can do about it
Phonics-First Reading Program
The Book: In 1955 Dr. Rudolf Flesch published his best-selling Why Johnny Can't Read and what you can do about it. The dual nature of the title reflects the dual nature of the book. Flesch first presents the Problem and then provides the Solution. The Problem was the look-and-say method and the Solution was Phonics-First.
The Proof: It is extremely easy to prove that Flesch is correct on both accounts by simply putting his phonics-first method to the test: teach some students with it. I have personally done just that many times and am thoroughly convinced that Flesch was correct. Mr. Edward Miller has found Flesch's phonics exercises very effective as verified by his test for artificially induced-dysleixa.
The Method: Phonics-first means teaching phonics BEFORE any sight-words. To assist parents and professional educators who wish to save children from the ravishes of illiteracy, I am producing this easy-to-follow set of audio lessons (mp3 format) for teaching the five-steps of Flesch's phonics-first program. Flesch's program is unsurpassed for both beginning students and remedial students of all ages. Flesch's book can be purchased from your local book store or Amazon.com.
Audio Instruction for
The Five Steps of Flesch's Phonics-First Home Primer
Recordings can be downloaded and used for free
for non-commerical purposes only.
Copyright © 2005 Donald L. Potter. All Rights Reserved
Assessment for Artificially Induced Whole-Word Dyslexia: I highly recommend the Miller Word Identification Assessment for making sure children are not developing whole-word dyslexia.
My Natural Phonics Primer™ materials, which analyze Flesch's method.
a. 44 English Speech Sounds - Chart
b. Natural Phonics Primer™- How to Make One
c. Natural Phonics Primer™ - How to Teach It
d. Natural Phonics Primer™ with Blend Phonics
e. Natural Phonics Primer™ Progress Chart
Revised Chart with more details.
f. Foundation for Phonics 26 Letters for 44 Sounds
g. Natural Phonics Primer™ - Certificate of Completion
h. Natural Phonics Primer™ List of Exercises publshed 9/23/006.
i. Natural Phonics Primer™ Vocabulary Study.
j. Natural Phonics Primer™ Oral Reading Speeds
k. Natural Phonics Primer™ Phonogram Chart
Flesch's Instructions
Notes to Parents and Teaches - From Teaching Johnny to Read (1956). These are the same exercises published in his 1955 book.
Transparency MasteryTransparency Masters for teaching Flesch's 72 Phonics Exercises from an overhead. I have used this with large classes.
Flesch's Three Principles for a Successful Nationwide Literacy Campaign.
Chart Supplement
Phonovisual Charts While not a part of Flesch's program, I have found these charts very helpful when used in combination with Flesch's Exercises. First published in 1943, this method is still in print!
Mrs. Lydia McGrew taught Flesch's program to her daughter Faith when Faith was very young. She has published her notes of that experience in two documents: 1. First Phonics Course for Young Children; 2. Advanced Phonics.
Flash Cards for Rudolf's Flesch's phonics words.
Flesch's Recommendations
Flesch highly recommended the work of the famous American linguist Leonard Bloomfield: let's read: A LINGUISTIC APPROACH. It is highly valued because of its careful lingustic sequence and plethora of decodable text. Flesch said that he developed his approach from suggestions Bloomfield made in an essay on reading. The second edition was recently published by the Wayne State U. Press.
He personally used the 1936 Hegge-Kirk-Kirk Remedial Reading Drills. They are available for free from my website. They are highly effective. An Teacher's Manual is included.
An Immodest, But Realistic Proposal
I would like to invite anyone with lots of money and a heart to help kids to enable me to purchase tens of thousands of copies of Rudolf Flesch's Why Johnny Can't Read and what you can do about it to give to parents of school children across America. You may contact me at don@donpotter.net.
With the help of the audio instruction I have published above, any parent can make absolutely sure that their child can learn to read well.
Cautionary Note: The Accelerated Reader (Reading Renaissance) program uses sight-word readers in kindergarten and first grade. Students MUST NOT begin the Accelerated Reader until they have mastered at least the first 50 of Flesch's Exercises or another good beginners phonics program.
You can find the first picture below in A History of The Book in America, Volume 5. The Enduring Book, Print Culture in Postwar America, edited by David Paul Nord, Joan Shelley Rubin, and Michael, Schudson. The University of North Caroline Press, 2009, p. 416. I am honored to represent Flesch in the good light he so richly deserves.
Don teaching Flesch from an overhead. Don and one of his students.
A close up of Exercise 68, Review 21
Page last revised 10/4/11
