What is the science of the reading curriculum?

At first thought, it might seem as if a large part of the science of reading involves reading instructions. However, this vast and complex field includes different methods and approaches to reading. It’s crucial to break down the science of reading into the basics to understand its focus and mission. This article will do just that.

What is the science of reading?

The Science of Reading consists of research-based work on building foundational reading skills and overall language comprehension. The research fields aren’t aimed solely at the English language – they span various languages.

The experts contributing to the science of reading research come from different disciplines: special education, psychology, early literacy, neuroscience, and more. This system wasn’t created as a single literacy curriculum. Instead, it evolved by connecting analyses, experiments, and research of individuals and institutions like the National Reading Panel.

As a result, the literacy approach to the science of reading grew based on vast experience and the information gained from it. This information relates to reading skills across every grade level. The science employs the best practices to build a universal approach to literacy. This unique approach is called Structured Literacy.

What has the science of reading taught us?

The science of reading has come up with valuable conclusions regarding reading skills development.

Firstly, research has found the cognitive processes involved in reading. This was the key to understanding how literacy skills develop. Combined with empirical evidence, these conclusions led to a practical realization of which literacy instructions work and which don’t.

These conclusions also led to the simple view of reading, which breaks down reading into two parts: decoding and language comprehension. The approach was shaped by Dr. Scarborough more than two decades ago.

The science of reading has also determined three developmental stages: sounds and letters, phonic decoding, and orthographic mapping.

“Sounds and letters” refers to sight-word learning through understanding how each letter sounds when reading aloud. This stage plays a vital role in the next one, phonic decoding.

Phonic decoding refers to phonological awareness, which develops in early reading and becomes most important around third grade. At more advanced levels, this stage helps learners build an orthographic lexicon.

Finally, orthographic mapping is the process responsible for accurate word retrieval. In simpler terms, it happens when students can identify new words on sight. This stage often sets students with reading difficulties like dyslexia apart from others.

The science of reading has also identified phonics and phonemic awareness as crucial factors in achieving reading success. Phonics instructions play a particular role in developing reading skills.

How the science of reading is applied in the classroom

Applying the methods of the science of reading to the classroom creates different reading programs from the traditional ones. The core principles are similar and rely on modeling specific reading skills. For instance, the students could have a read-aloud and then practice decoding the text independently. This is also known as “cueing.” However, the science of reading method employs particular strategies.

Traditionally, students would figure out a word through picture and first-letter associations. In the science of reading model, they arrive at the solution based on how the word is written. Instead of event sequencing and cause and effect, the model focuses on mindful reading.

How can teachers improve their approaches?

Becoming familiar with the science of reading is a vital part of professional development for teachers. There are two views on reading vying for dominance in the classroom: the phonics-based approach and so-called “balanced literacy.”

The issue is that teachers can’t use both approaches. Certain practices from one exclude the other, so teachers have to choose the path they’ll take. However, it’s important to remember that the science of reading involves more than phonics. It’s a high-quality model for professional learning.

For instance, teachers can use working memory to involve higher-level brain regions in the learning process. Speech sound processing is another helpful technique, especially since some children may have difficulties in that area. Developing these two aspects would build a good foundation for later improvement.

Teachers can find many resources to learn about the science of reading. These include written documents with explicit instructions and digital resources like webinars and podcasts.

Speechify – The text to speech tool that improves reading proficiency

Speechify is a text to speech tool built with reading skills development in mind. The TTS engine can read any text aloud, from imported documents and scanned pages to digital media and photographed pages.

Speechify allows users to adjust the reading speed and choose between various narrator voices and languages. It also features the most realistic voices compared to other text to speech apps, ensuring users hear accurate pronunciation. The app can become a crucial companion to reading lessons that follow the science of reading approach. You can try Speechify right now and see the TTS service in action.

FAQ

Is the science of reading the same as Orton-Gillingham?

The science of reading and Orthon-Gillingham aren’t precisely the same. Orton-Gillingham is a method of teaching reading through systematic work on phonics. As such, it’s a part of the science of reading.

Is the science of reading controversial?

The science of reading isn’t a unified theory. Instead, it’s a complex system of different methods. As such, it is, of course, bound to have specific controversial points, but the system as a whole is legitimate.

What are the components of the science of reading?

The science of reading deals with five key components. These are phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.

Is the science of reading just phonics?

Phonics represents a major area of research, but there are other areas that the science of reading deals with, as outlined in the FAQ above.

What is the science of reading’s goal?

The science of reading aims to improve reading teaching methods by researching evidence-based approaches to the subject.

How is the science of reading different than other reading methods?

The science of reading is based on extensive research spanning five decades. It adopts an evidence-based approach and functions across various languages. Focused on phonics and related matters, it delivers thorough methods for improving reading teaching.