Why Reading Is Not a Natural Process

Lyon, G. Why reading is not a natural process (1998). Educational Leadership, 55(6), 14-18.

Nearly four decades of scientific research on how children learn to read supports an emphasis on phonemic awareness and phonics in a literature-rich environment. These findings challenge the belief that children learn to read naturally.

"You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend." — Paul Sweeney