Are reading wars destroying our children's education? In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. P.L. Thomas, a former high school English teacher with 18 years of classroom experience, exposes how education strategies, effective teaching, and instructional strategies are being replaced by one-size-fits-all programs that ignore what we know about student engagement, student motivation, and inclusive teaching.
What You'll Learn:
✅ Why the reading wars keep repeating every decade (it's not what you think!)
✅ The REAL reasons Mississippi's reading scores improved (hint: it's not just phonics)
✅ How teacher autonomy is being destroyed by scripted programs
✅ Why balanced literacy isn't the enemy educators claim it is
✅ The hidden costs of over-labeling students with reading difficulties
Perfect for:
- Teachers struggling with mandated reading programs
- School administrators seeking evidence-based solutions
- Parents questioning their child's reading instruction
- Education coaches supporting teacher development
- Instructional leaders wanting to understand the research
Key Topics Covered:
- Teacher coaching and professional development alternatives
- Culturally responsive teaching vs. scripted curricula
- Equity in education and inclusive classrooms
- Student success through empowered educators
- Education transformation and teacher impact
- School change that prioritizes thriving students
This conversation challenges the narrative that phonics-only instruction is the solution to literacy challenges, instead advocating for inspired teaching that meets individual student needs through innovative teaching practices and teacher support.
CHAPTERS
0:00 - Introduction: Meet Dr. P.L. Thomas
2:15 - The Inspiring Teacher That Changed Everything
5:30 - Teacher Autonomy: Then vs Now
8:45 - The Reading Wars: Core Problems Explained
15:20 - Historical Context: 1940s to Today's Third Reading War
22:30 - Mississippi's Reading Gains: The Real Story
28:10 - England's Phonics Mandate: What Really Happened
32:45 - Defining Reading in the 21st Century
38:20 - Workshop Teaching vs Scripted Programs
45:15 - The Role of Standards and Assessment
50:30 - What Counts as "Scientific" Research?
57:40 - Media Influence and Market Forces
64:25 - Supporting Students with Reading Difficulties
70:10 - Building Community and Resistance
75:30 - Hope and Action Steps for Educators
78:45 - Final Thoughts: Putting Students First
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
