But as the science of reading movement has spread, researchers and advocates have taken aim at this method—and more generally, the idea of using “sight word” lists as an instructional tool.

Science Here’s what forgetting simple words says about your brain ‘Tip-of the tongue syndrome’ doesn’t necessarily reflect an aging memory. By Roger Kreuz & Richard Roberts/MIT Press Reader.

RANDALL: Well, how about, I could always do another book where I can use any of the simple words. I have to use the other 29,000 English words the people know. But I can’t use the or and. IRA: Wow.

Recognizing spoken words is a split-second competition, and a new study defines how people approach that competition and ultimately recognize words. The researchers identified three main ...