For those of you that are not aware, The Science of Reading is a balanced approach to reading instruction that was formulated and tested over a long period of time. There has been a lot of controversy and arguments for the best way to teach our students, but in the last 20 years the Science of Reading has become more prominent within the classroom. (Nessy, 2021) The idea behind The Science of Reading boils down to a not so simple equation. This being that decoding x language comprehension = reading comprehension, this can be seen in the photograph below that has been provided by the We Are Teachers website. Each of these areas has multiple underlying areas of content beneath them. Decoding is the process of interpreting words and letters and associating them with sounds. Language comprehension focuses more on the vocabulary and fluency area of the equation. The Science of Reading says that incorporating both of these will in turn give the outcome of reading comprehension.
(We Are Teachers, 2024)
Apart from the equation, the next largest aspect of The Science of reading is the five pillars of literacy. These are the key components that make up the science of reading. These five components include: phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These five pillars of literacy ensure that students are prepared across the board when it comes to reading. Below you can see an image from the We are Teachers website showcasing the five pillars of literacy. (We Are Teachers, 2024)
(We Are Teachers, 2024)
As far as my opinion of the matter, I would say that from my knowledge on the topic of The Science of Reading it is extremely beneficial for our students' development. I love that it showcases the importance of each of the five pillars of literacy and expands their knowledge across the board. While I have not been a permanent fixture in a classroom at this point, I believe it would help to improve my students' literacy development. After reading through many articles I also believe that decoding x language comprehension will in turn have a positive impact on a student’s reading comprehension.
Thank you for reading!
-Ashten
Sources:
Pressley, T., Allington, R. L., & Pressley, M. (2023). Reading Instruction That Works (5th ed.). Guilford Publications, Inc.. https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9781462551873
Jill Staake, B.S. “What Is the Science of Reading?” We Are Teachers, 22 Jan. 2024, www.weareteachers.com/what-is-the-science-of-reading/.
Person. “What Is the Science of Reading?” What Is The Science of Reading?, 28 Oct. 2021, www.nessy.com/en-us/dyslexia-explained/how-to-help-dyslexia/what-is-the-science-of-reading.
Thanks for taking a definitive approach in your post. I believe when we as teachers understand and know the benefits of a program, we can identify its weaknesses and address them much more easily.
ReplyDeleteYour visuals for this are great. They really add to what you are talking about.
ReplyDeleteTo begin, I like that your added in the equation reading comprehension= decoding x linguistic comprehension. I saw this equation in quite a few articles. I think it holds a lot of value behind it. When we have students who have background knowledge of what we are talking about or teaching, they will be able to better understand the materials and the texts. The same goes for their language and speaking skills. If a student has strong speaking and language skills coupled with decoding skills they will have a greater chance of reading comprehension versus a student who does not have these skills. When we know this, we can work towards ensuring all of our students are building onto their skills they already have to strengthen them to ensure their success.
I love your organized, and insightful post! The visual aids really add a lot of great additional information! I think that the science of reading is very beneficial to students! I could not agree more. I hope to implement this successfully in my classroom one day soon! I know you mentioned this being a desire for you, as well. The pillar content is great way to explain this concept. I am really liking looking at it in that manner. Super awesome! I never looked at it like that before, but it helps me to visualize it in a new light! Nice work!
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