I cannot remember learning how to read or a time when I could not read. But I do remember the Letter People from Kindergarten. I can still see those inflatable characters sitting around the room. I think they were trying to teach us phonics with it and teach us some simple words like CAT. I did not learn anything, but the songs and characters were kind of fun. (And so was the sand table.) I recently saw that they have revised the Letter People to be more PC and that they are still being used in some private schools.
My father has mentioned that when he was in first grade (early 40s), the teacher would not let the class move on in reading until every single kid could read whatever they were learning. He said they went over it and over it until everyone was completely bored. I think he still has bad feelings when he thinks about it. What a great approach to education!
