The Science of Teaching Kids To Read
If you’re a teacher, it's very likely that you have heard the phrase “Science of Reading” being tossed around. If you’re really on the ball, maybe you’re already teaching it, or maybe this is the first you’re hearing of it.
Here’s the quick and dirty: The Science of Reading is a research-backed approach that offers a comprehensive understanding of how we learn to read and comprehend written language.
Understanding the Science of Reading
The Science of reading is NOT a specific program that you teach. At its core, the Science of Reading is a collection of evidence-based research that provides a framework for educators, highlighting the crucial components necessary for proficient reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
It emphasizes the systematic and explicit teaching of the relationships between sounds and letters, acknowledging that these skills are fundamental to a student’s ability to decode words and understand written language.
Why Teachers Should Embrace This Approach
It’s a no brainer the Science of Reading is rooted in, you guessed it, SCIENCE! Following Science of Reading based approaches will:
Support Your Struggling Readers: offer structured and explicit instruction, providing them with the necessary tools to overcome hurdles and develop strong reading abilities.
Give Your Students A Strong Foundation: beyond mere decoding, it fosters a deeper understanding of language. By focusing on various components of literacy, it equips students with the skills necessary for comprehension, critical thinking, and vocabulary expansion.
Promote Equity in your Classroom: every student deserves access to the best tools for learning. Many of the reading techniques we have implemented as part of “balanced literacy” work for most students - well enough anyway, but they don’t include everyone. Implementing the Science of Reading ensures that all students, regardless of their backgrounds or learning differences, have equal opportunities to excel in reading. It doesn’t leave gaps that students have to fill in themselves.
Implementing the Science of Reading in Classrooms
There are a few basic ways you can implement the Science of Reading in your classroom.
Phonics Instruction: Offer systematic and explicit lessons that teach the relationship between sounds and letters, supporting students in decoding unfamiliar words. This is where a great program like UFLI, Jolly Phonics, or Kendor comes in.
Phonemic Awareness Activities: Engage students in exercises that help them identify and manipulate individual sounds within words, strengthening their foundational reading skills. Phonics BOGGLE and HANGMAN are great options!
Vocabulary Development: Foster a love for words by incorporating activities that expand students’ vocabulary, promoting deeper comprehension and expression.
Reading Aloud: Regular read-aloud sessions not only encourage a joy for reading but also enhance fluency, comprehension, and language development!
Practice using learned letter sound relationships by building words in Phonics Boggle or Phonics Hangman!
Okay, but how do I Actually DO it?
There are a number of AMAZING programs out there that have already done the work for you! I know you’ve heard it before: don’t go reinventing the wheel! Here are the two most well known science based programs I have used in my classroom:
Jolly Phonics
UFLI Foundations (University of Florida Literacy Institute)
I currently use UFLI in my classroom, and I LOVE it! Like everything, it’s not perfect, but it mostly suits my needs. My students are growing in leaps and bounds and it makes my heart so happy to see their progress!
