I’ve been struggling for ages with trying to write a post about the pros and cons about teaching phonics. I guess it’s been hard because the topic is so controversial, and my opinion about teaching phonics is complicated.

So, while taking a workshop on writing with artificial intelligence (AI), I asked chat.openai.com to write an opinion about teaching phonics. I think you’ll be interested in its (their??) answer!

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MY PROMPT: Write an opinion about teaching phonics.

AI RESPONSE: As an AI language model, I don’t have personal opinions, but I can provide an overview of the benefits and potential drawbacks of teaching phonics.

Phonics is a method of teaching reading and writing by focusing on the relationship between sounds and written letters or groups of letters. Phonics instruction typically involves teaching children to recognize and decode words by breaking them down into their individual sounds and then blending those sounds together.

Many educators and experts argue that teaching phonics is essential for helping young children learn to read and write. They believe that phonics instruction can help children develop strong foundational skills in reading, spelling, and writing that will serve them well throughout their academic careers.

Proponents of phonics instruction argue that it provides a systematic and logical way to teach reading and writing that is based on the way language is structured. They believe that teaching phonics helps children develop a deeper understanding of language, improves their reading fluency, and enables them to read more complex texts.

However, there are also critics of phonics instruction who argue that it is too focused on the mechanics of reading and writing and ignores other important aspects of literacy, such as comprehension, critical thinking, and analysis. Critics also argue that a heavy emphasis on phonics can be boring and disengaging for some children, leading to a lack of interest in reading and writing.

Overall, while phonics instruction is one important aspect of teaching reading and writing, it should be combined with other approaches that promote comprehension, critical thinking, and creativity. Teachers should also be mindful of individual students’ needs and interests and tailor their instruction accordingly to create a positive and engaging learning experience.

MY REACTION: Wow! Impressive! But then I have to remember that the way AI works is that it scans the internet for information and puts it together. My only complaint is that it used the word argue three times.

I guess someone needs to train AI to use synonyms, instead of using the same word over and over, but that someone won’t be me…Can AI train itself to do that?