Argues that systematic phonics is destined to fail as a method of reading instruction, and will make learning to read more difficult for many children. Argues it totally misunderstands or ignores how children actually learn to read; the time to learn phonics, if at all, is during reading; and phonemic awareness is spurious. Looks at ideological…

"Sounding out" is a cultural model capturing an image of reading that parents and children share, is found to enhance reading ability. The role played by "Sounding out" in parent's experiences with reading is described and how they apply their understanding of sounding out words to instructional interactions with their own children is described.