Sep 19, 2026 · 15 min · 9 segments
**Purpose statement:** The reader will become more effective in evaluating online sources related to reading instruction. **Behavioral objective:** Readers will be able to identify instances in which…
Andy JohnsonHost
In the world of literacy instruction, different terms are often used for the same thing, but also the same words are used for Different things.
And as you can well imagine, this causes a bit of confusion that in turn leads to all sorts of erroneous conclusions and bad reading instruction.
There are, however, differing positions and assumptions based on theoretical perspectives.
Now, these differing perspectives are called a reading war because some have found it politically and economically advantageous to do so.
And if these same people could make more consulting money, get larger speaking fees, and sell more products by declaring penguins to be the cause of all reading difficulties, they'd do so.
Consultants and podcasters would be describing research-based techniques for penguin removal.
Radio journalists would produce documentaries with scary music in the background showing elementary schools crawling with penguins.
And there'd be tearful interviews of parents telling how their children could read before the penguins came.
And the National Council on Teacher Quality would evaluate teacher education programs based on how they address the big five components of penguin removal identified by the National Penguin Panel.
Certain words can no longer appear on course syllabi and teacher education programs.
And reading programs and professional development for teachers must be approved by the state.
and only knowledge produced by a very narrow range of research methods that has been approved by the federal government is considered to be valid.
In the world of literacy instruction, different terms are often used for the same thing, but also the same words are used for Different things.
And as you can well imagine, this causes a bit of confusion that in turn leads to all sorts of erroneous conclusions and bad reading instruction.
There are, however, differing positions and assumptions based on theoretical perspectives.
Now, these differing perspectives are called a reading war because some have found it politically and economically advantageous to do so.
And if these same people could make more consulting money, get larger speaking fees, and sell more products by declaring penguins to be the cause of all reading difficulties, they'd do so.
Consultants and podcasters would be describing research-based techniques for penguin removal.
Radio journalists would produce documentaries with scary music in the background showing elementary schools crawling with penguins.
And there'd be tearful interviews of parents telling how their children could read before the penguins came.
And the National Council on Teacher Quality would evaluate teacher education programs based on how they address the big five components of penguin removal identified by the National Penguin Panel.
Certain words can no longer appear on course syllabi and teacher education programs.
And reading programs and professional development for teachers must be approved by the state.
and only knowledge produced by a very narrow range of research methods that has been approved by the federal government is considered to be valid.
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