In fact, some of the most common English words are nonphonetic. For example, the words to and do do not rhyme with so or go.

Despite decades of debate on reading methods, many US students, especially Black children, struggle to read at grade level.

I had a surprisingly positive middle school English experience. I remember my teacher holding “A Separate Peace” aloft, asking us to consider the names John Knowles chose for his two main characters: ...