The 鈥渟cience of reading鈥� is a body of knowledge referring to how students learn to sound out words, learn vocabulary, and read increasingly sophisticated texts. More teachers are being encouraged to use evidence-based practices aligned to this research, and in some cases, are required to use or discard certain teaching approaches.
Teachers continue to debate the recent movement, and some remain hesitant about abandoning more traditional and favored methods.
Social media is a lively venue to listen in on and gauge what educators are saying about hot topics.
And when it comes to the topic of how to teach early reading, teachers have plenty to say. Their responses point towards a wide level of understanding and interpretation of what the term science of reading means and how to use it to inform teaching.
Some educators question the legitimacy of the 鈥榮cience of reading鈥� branding
A number of educators have cited concerns about the implementation of shifts in how kids are taught to read, such as a loss of autonomy for teachers. Many question whether it鈥檚 a tried-and-true strategy, or just great marketing.
鈥淩eading is not a 鈥渟cience.鈥�
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鈥淪cience of Reading鈥�
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鈥淚t鈥檚 not a complex body of knowledge. It鈥檚 the same thing, just rebranded.鈥�
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鈥淧honics works ... always has.鈥�
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鈥淪imple systems work. The art of teaching reading is not broken ... Teach basics, phonics, set up a supported home reading scheme, and hear kids regularly at school. Reading is just made complicated by academics.鈥�
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鈥淓vidence-based literacy shows that reading and writing is mastered faster in languages that are phonetic ... what we need is spelling reform.鈥�
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But plenty of teachers are taking quite well to the strategy. Educators in this camp are sharing examples of the strategy at work, giving tips for fellow teachers on what activities to try, and even attesting to how the 鈥渟cience of reading鈥� has led to them replace activities that have, in some cases, been in classrooms for generations.
Putting reading research into action
Some teachers brought their social media timelines into their classrooms, with one posting on TikTok to show how her class was reviewing phonic patterns.
Replying to @James McPherson When they know the phonics patterns, they can spell anything! teachersoftiktok mscraftkindergarten scienceofreading ortongillingham phonics
Teachers have also posted on X鈥攆ormerly known as Twitter鈥攖o show how their classes were putting the strategy in motion.
Lots of repetitions of letter name-sound!
— Mrs. Pallone (@MrsPallone)
The K-2 teachers did a revamp on to incorporate components of I must say our teachers are intentional with transforming our
— Dr. Ashley Smiley (@DrSmileyIsLit)
Playing 鈥淏uy One Get One Free鈥� and practicing the floss rule in Fundations! 馃摎馃挋馃
— Waterville Primary (@awlswa)
When Pok茅mon meets phonemic awareness.
— Courtney Boyce (@courtneylboyce)
Teachers post tips and tricks on their reading instruction practices to help others
Some teachers used their platforms to showcase helpful tips they鈥檝e learned while implementing evidence-based nstrategies in their classrooms.
how to get your students to decode/break apart words based on Science of Reading decode words How to decode words science of reading how to read reading elementary reading teach your child to read elementary parents toddler parent elementary teacher first grade teacher second grade teacher third grade teacher fourth grade teacher reading specialist reading teacher
Here are the five simplest ways to start the science of reading! 馃敟 1锔忊儯 Practice phonological awareness every single day. Research has shown it鈥檚 a critical key to unlocking students鈥� reading growth because it builds the neural pathways they need to hear and manipulate sounds in words. 2锔忊儯 Practice phonics every day too! We now know that students don鈥檛 鈥渘aturally鈥� learn how to read - we have to help the connect the dots between letters and sounds. 3锔忊儯 Sort your sight word list by phonics skill so readers can focus on just one spelling rule or phonogram at a time. 4锔忊儯 Throw out your sight word flashcards and replace them with sound maps. Studies have shown they help students memorize words 10 times faster because they connect a word鈥檚 spelling to the pronunciation and meaning. (We need all three of those pieces pulled together into a mental file folder in order to be able to memorize a word.) 5锔忊儯 Join the 5-day challenge I鈥檓 kicking off on Sunday so you can get all of the tools and training you need to start implementing the science of reading right away. (You鈥檒l only need an hour or less each day and you鈥檒l have 60 days of access so you can work at your own pace.) 馃憠 Comment CHALLENGE and we will send you a link!
Teachers post about which reading instructional proactices they are changing
Finally, lesson plans that have been tried-and-true鈥攍ike singing the traditional ABC song鈥攁re now being altered or replaced with new versions that draw on strategies aligned with the 鈥渟cience of reading.鈥�
The third one is such a game changer!
It鈥檚 true. They changed the alphabet song. But it鈥檚 for a good reason!
— Rachel (@teachrachelsor)
