If you’ve ever sat with a child who’s struggling to read, you know the frustration. They look at a page filled with letters, guess a few words, and then glance up with eyes that silently plead, “Am I getting this right?” For parents, it’s heartbreaking. For kids, it can be crushing.

The truth is, reading isn’t a natural skill like speaking. It’s a code, and some children crack it quickly while others need a roadmap. 

That’s where phonics comes in. Phonics takes the mystery out of the written word. Instead of guessing, kids learn that letters and sounds fit together like puzzle pieces. Once they see the pattern, the world of books, signs, and ideas opens wide, and they evolve into independent readers, eager to learn and explore the new frontier. 

The problem? For decades, American schools have bounced back and forth between fads and philosophies, leaving phonics on the sidelines. Balanced literacy, “whole word” memorization, and even “vibes-based reading” programs have all promised shortcuts. But too often, they left struggling readers even further behind.

Over the last two centuries, the pendulum has swung back and forth between the tried and true phonics-based approach and new ideas and experimental methods. 

Now, parents and policymakers alike are realizing what Noah Webster himself knew two centuries ago: the basics matter. Teaching children to read through phonics isn’t just another method. It’s the foundation for everything else: academic success, civic engagement, and even cultural renewal. 

And in today’s climate, it matters more than ever.

Phonics: The Foundation That Unlocks Literacy

Phonics is simple: connect letters to sounds to crack the code of written language. It’s not flashy, but it works. 

“The average impact of the adoption of phonics approaches is about an additional five months’ progress over the course of a year.” The Education Endowment Foundation explains. “Phonics approaches have been consistently found to be effective in supporting younger pupils to master the basics of reading…Research suggests that phonics is particularly beneficial for younger learners (4−7 year olds) as they begin to read. Teaching phonics is more effective on average than other approaches to early reading (such as whole language or alphabetic approaches)…”

New York City recently returned to the basics of reading instruction with the implementation of its “NYC Reads” initiative, launched in 2023. This program replaced the old balanced-literacy methods with phonics-based programs in every elementary school. 

Slowly, educators are realizing the value of the old-school approach, and the reading pendulum is swinging again. 

Phonics Builds Independence, Not Guesswork

A child’s reading comprehension level is a huge predictor of their future success or failure in life, which means the stakes are high when it comes to choosing the best reading instruction method.

One of the biggest strengths of phonics is that it gives children the tools to read any word they encounter. Without phonics, kids often rely on memorizing sight words or guessing from context. That may work for “cat” or “dog,” but what happens when they hit a word like constitution or responsibility?

As a method of teaching students how to read, phonics starts with the basics and then builds on that foundation. Children Learning Reading explains the basic process for phonics-based reading: “It is through phonics that a child just beginning to read learns to first identify the letters, then associate each letter or groups of letters with its correct sounds, and soon after, through the process of blending, they learn how to merge the sounds together to form a complete word. This step, when mastered, will help beginners to become proficient readers.”

Phonics equips students to tackle big words with confidence. They’re no longer dependent on flashcards or teacher prompts; they can decode text on their own. That independence builds not only better readers, but also stronger learners who aren’t afraid of new challenges. 

Building on the Foundation

When constructing a house, the foundation must be solid and plumb, but the structure of the home can vary greatly. Will it have one bedroom or ten? Will it be single-story or a double?

Phonics is the foundation. It provides children with the tools and skills they will need to build their literary journey. When the basics are mastered, they can branch out and embrace other methods to brighten their literacy path. 

As scholar Timothy Shanahan notes, we shouldn’t seek “silver bullets”—instead, we need comprehensive reading programs that include comprehension, writing, vocabulary development, and phonics.

The National Reading Panel reviewed 38 studies and found that systematic phonics instruction significantly improved decoding, fluency, spelling, and comprehension, outperforming other teaching methods by a substantial margin. 

At the same time, these findings suggest that phonics should not be the sole component. It’s foundational, but it works best when combined with broader literacy goals. We need to build on the foundation of phonics. 

Why Now? 

The debate over how to teach kids to read isn’t new, but the urgency has never been greater. 

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed cracks in the system that had been widening for decades. When schools shut down in 2020 and instruction shifted online, many children fell dramatically behind. 

For years, “balanced literacy” programs encouraged children to guess words using pictures and context rather than learn phonics systematically. It sounded child-friendly, but in practice, it left struggling students even further behind. The pandemic simply highlighted the weakness of this approach, and parents took notice. 

At the same time, classrooms became battlegrounds for ideological debates. Instead of fixing literacy instruction, many districts doubled down on trendy programs or diverted energy into cultural and political issues unrelated to reading. 

This has led to renewed clarity: phonics isn’t just another program, it’s a lifeline. That’s why cities like New York have completely overhauled their literacy curriculum. 

In other words, the time for half-measures and experiments is over. The pandemic pulled back the curtain on what happens when reading instruction drifts from proven methods. Now, parents, teachers, and policymakers have the opportunity —and the responsibility —to bring phonics back to the center of American education.

Framing It Right for a Renewed Cultural Approach

When the goal is to unify people, confrontation rarely wins the day. Lasting change doesn’t come from shouting matches or endless battles; it comes from finding common ground. Parents, teachers, and policymakers may disagree on many things, but nearly everyone can agree on one thing: every child deserves the ability to read well. That shared goal is the foundation on which we can build.

As we work to restore a phonics-based approach to reading, we should keep that perspective at the forefront. Phonics isn’t about picking fights; it’s about reclaiming the basics and achieving results. When children learn to read through precise, systematic instruction, they stand on solid ground rather than shifting sand. By presenting phonics as a return to simplicity and effectiveness, and not another complicated program, we invite allies rather than opponents.

This approach also highlights a crucial truth: phonics empowers all students, no matter their background. It doesn’t lower standards; it raises them by giving every child the tools to succeed. In that sense, phonics is not just a method, it’s an equalizer. It makes sure that ambition, curiosity, and opportunity aren’t reserved for the few, but available to every student willing to learn.

Moving Forward

Phonics matters now more than ever; not because it’s trendy, but because it’s effective. When reading is no longer a mystery, students gain confidence, curiosity, and control. They don’t just read, they learn.

This is about reclaiming language and culture. Not through ideology, but through evidence, clarity, and opportunity. When educators get this right, we restore not just literacy, but we hand generations of learners the skills and tools they need for complex thought, moral truth, and responsible civic movements.

Learn more about reclaiming education and culture by downloading our new e-book Reclaiming Edcuation and Culture