I hope you saw the article we posted on our Facebook page from Cleveland.com about the science of reading. If not, check out this link, Science of reading: Ohio schools changing approach to teaching literacy this year (msn.com).
What is the science of reading? The science of reading is a method of teaching kids how to read derived from 50 plus years of rigorous research. (Science of Reading | Reading Rockets). The implications for reading instruction are logical and kind of make you wonder why we haven’t been doing this all along. Now, the state is mandating teachers to use evidence-based instruction to teach your child how to read. Researchers have learned that reading is not a natural process like language. Students need direct and explicit instruction when learning to read. Current methods like teaching students to guess at words or look at pictures do not build the skill to read, spell or understand what we are reading.
So, what needs to be taught? The National Reading Panel (NRP) identified 5 components that students need to learn to be able to read and comprehend. (The Science of Reading Resource Hub | Zaner-Bloser. )
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Phonemic Awareness – awareness of smallest units of sounds in spoken words.
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Phonics – teaching letter sound correspondence and their use in reading and spelling.
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Fluent text reading
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Vocabulary
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Comprehension
Parents, switching to a curriculum which uses the science of reading is a big deal and a big win for our kids. Children who have difficulty learning to read can exhibit negative behaviors like school refusal, acting out, low self-esteem, frustration, anger, and depression. Using proven teaching techniques and methods will change the trajectory of our children’s education and benefit them for the rest of their lives. I urge you to educate yourself on this subject. At the end of this blog, there’s a link to a fantastic white paper explaining the science of reading and the benefits to our students in great detail. I also urge you to find out what you can do to advocate for using the science of reading to teach our children literacy skills they will use for the rest of their lives. And, for those of you who like to listen to podcasts, please check out “Sold A Story”, it’s on Apple and Spotify. You can also find it online, at Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong | Podcast (apmreports.org).
Sources:
The Science of Reading Resource Hub | Zaner-Bloser There is a link on this page to a white paper explaining in depth the science behind the science of reading. It’s a must read for parents.
Reading Rockets Science of Reading | Reading Rockets
Resources:
The Science of Reading | Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
Dyslexia Supports | Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong | Podcast (apmreports.org)