June 24, 2026

Reading or Memorizing? The Difference Matters

21 minutes

Episode 91: This week Miss Beth dives into her viral video that sparked thousands of comments and a lot of strong opinions. After sharing that children who can read familiar words but struggle with nonsense words may be relying on memorization rather than decoding, the internet had questions: is memorization bad, do skilled readers really sound out every word, and are adults just "fake reading"? Beth unpacks what she actually meant, explores the research behind decoding and orthographic mapping, and explains why nonsense words reveal so much about whether a child truly understands the alphabetic code.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
• Why the term "fake reading" struck such a nerve online
• The real difference between memorization and decoding
• What nonsense words actually reveal about a child's reading ability
• Why skilled readers don't decode every single word forever
• The truth about automaticity and orthographic mapping
• Why words like invited and invaded can expose hidden gaps
• Common myths about how our brains read words (shape, context, first and last letters)
• Why explicit reading instruction is an equity issue, not just a preference
• How to support children without shame, blame, or guilt

READING REWIND: 1991
This week's literacy time capsule takes us back to 1991, when the Reading Wars were heating up and educators were debating many of the same questions parents and teachers are still asking today.

TOPICS
science of reading · decoding · orthographic mapping · nonsense words · automaticity · phonics · reading wars · structured literacy · literacy equity · fourth grade reading proficiency · reading instruction · memorization vs decoding

CONNECT WITH MISS BETH
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a teacher, grandparent, or friend who's ever wondered: "How do I know if my child is really reading?" And if you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow Play on Words so you never miss an episode.

ABOUT THE HOST
Beth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.