How can Progress Learning Support the Science of Reading?
Updated
by
Gayle McKee
The Science of Reading is a term used to describe a body of research about how people learn to read and what teaching methods are most effective. Imagine learning to read as building a house. The Science of Reading gives us the blueprint for constructing that house in the best way possible. Here is a breakdown of its main ideas:
- How Reading Works: Think of reading as involving two main skills: recognizing letters and understanding their sounds (phonics), and making sense of the words and sentences we read (comprehension). Both are crucial for reading well.
- Phonics: This is about understanding the relationship between letters and sounds. For example, knowing that the letter "b" sounds like "buh" helps us decode words like "bat" and "ball." Effective reading instruction teaches these connections systematically.
- Decoding and Fluency: Decoding is the process of sounding out words, and fluency means reading smoothly and quickly. Good reading instruction helps students practice these skills so they don’t have to labor over each word and can focus more on understanding what they’re reading.
- Vocabulary and Comprehension: Knowing a lot of words and understanding their meanings helps with comprehension. It's like having a bigger toolbox to help you understand and use new information. Teaching strategies often include building vocabulary and practicing how to understand and think about what you're reading.
- Early and Systematic Instruction: Research shows that teaching these skills early on and in a structured way is more effective. It’s like learning to walk before you run; you need a solid foundation in the basics before moving on to more complex skills.
Progress Learning is a supplemental resource for K-2 students learning to read through the Science of Reading. Our engaging platform provides differentiated and individualized instruction, which was built with a combination of several states' standards and research-based literacy materials. We support students learning to read through intensive and relevant vocabulary and reading comprehension activities.
