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'Right to Read' screening highlights need for balanced literacy

On Jan. 7, Northwest Passages, in partnership with the Spokane branch of the NAACP and The Black Lens, held a screening of the documentary “The Right To Read” at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, which highlighted the literacy deficits implied when phonics based instruction is replaced with whole language, balanced literacy. The latter model leaves many students unable to decode words because phonics is deemphasized and replaced by memorization, picture clues and context to build a literacy foundation.