Research Paper on:
Phonics in Teaching Reading

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
The way a child learns to read wouldnt, on first consideration, be regarded as a very controversial topic. It is,  however, one of the most controversial topics of our day. With the Bush Administrations emphasis on instilling good reading skills in our nations schools the topic of phonics has  once again become a topic of general conversation. Just when most of the bumper stickers ridiculing phonics have all but disappeared from our city streets and national highways, the  misunderstandings as to the effectiveness of this educational methodology have once again began to infiltrate the consciousness of the general public. Too many, however, have the tendency to ridicule  phonics and to clamor for its removal from our educational approach. This mindset is more often based in misunderstandings of what phonics is than it is in an accurate  knowledge of educational strategy. Phonics are, and have been, the most effective way to instill reading skills in our children. When individuals  criticize phonics it is difficult to ask just how they were taught to read. Most individuals with adequate reading skills were, in fact, taught to read using phonics.  They just misassociate the term with some new social movement or some other great mystery that they feel is beyond their understanding. They want to find a reason for  the problems that they see in the educational system today and that mysterious term "phonics" tends to become the focus for much of their dissatisfaction. The George W. Bush  administrations Reading First initiative, in particular, has added fuel to that dissatisfaction as the debate over the proper way to teach reading has left the halls of academia and entered