Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Tidbits! Today, we’re diving into the world of reading instruction with a focus on five key terms that are foundational to the Science of Reading. Understanding these terms is essential for educators, parents, and anyone interested in supporting literacy development.

‍

Five Pillars of Reading Instruction

The Five Pillars of Reading Instruction provide a comprehensive framework for effective reading teaching. They are:

• Phonemic Awareness: Understanding the individual sounds in words.

• Phonics: Connecting letters to their corresponding sounds to decode words.

• Fluency: Reading accurately, quickly, and with expression.

• Vocabulary: Knowing the meaning of words.

• Comprehension: Understanding the meaning of text.

‍Scarborough’s Rope

This model visually represents the complex nature of reading. It illustrates how word recognition (decoding) and language comprehension intertwine to create skilled reading.

‍‍

Structured Literacy

Structured Literacy is a systematic, explicit, and sequential approach to teaching reading. It focuses on building foundational skills in phonics, phonemic awareness, and decoding, providing students with a strong foundation for reading success.

‍‍

Schema

Schema refers to prior knowledge and background information that a reader brings to a text. It helps readers connect new information to what they already know, enhancing comprehension.

‍‍

Explicit Direct Instruction

Explicit Direct Instruction is a teaching method where the teacher clearly models a skill or concept, provides guided practice, and offers opportunities for independent practice. It is an effective approach for teaching foundational reading skills.

‍

Understanding these key terms is crucial for supporting effective reading instruction. By familiarizing yourself with these concepts, you can better advocate for evidence-based practices in your classrooms and communities.

‍

Visit our Educator Toolkit page for more Science of Reading resources or contact us at info@storyshares.org to learn about our Professional Learning opportunities.

‍