It is no surprise that a Direct Instruction (DI) phonics program increased standardized test scores for low income students at 35 elementary and two high schools in Milwaukee.
Schools of education shun DI because it is a teacher-centered, not student-centered, approach to instruction. DI is a revolutionary idea: the teacher thoroughly teaches the material and the student learns it from the teacher. (Just think, someone received tenure for capitalizing direct instruction and calling it a new idea.) We have known for years that DI is the best instructional method for public schools. We have also seen phonics do wonders for school districts across the U.S., especially in Texas.
But, hey, who wants something that works? Not educators.
