What is the science of reading? Why should educators consider it while developing their reading curriculum? Understanding how people learn to read helps teachers develop effect strategies for teaching literacy. Becoming familiar with the 5 pillars of reading, as well as the simple view of reading, can help educators determine what is most important in a science of reading curriculum. Plus, Math & Movement is sharing research-based kinesthetic strategies that make literacy lessons fun, active, and effective!
What is the Science of Reading?
The term “science of reading” was first used in the 1830s and its definition has evolved over the years. Today, the science of reading (SoR) is known as a comprehensive, research-driven approach to teaching children how to read. It seeks to fully reveal what happens in the brain when it’s learning how to read.
Since this teaching method is based in science, it continues to develop. Rooted in cognitive psychology, linguistics, and neuroscience research, the science of reading gives educators a framework to teach their students how to read. Plus, it helps educators develop research-based reading curriculums.
Learning to read is a complex cognitive process that uses multiple brain regions in unison. When the brain’s temporal and frontal lobes process language and integrate new knowledge, students begin to make inferences and develop critical thinking skills. They can draw conclusions from a whole body of text that they have read.
Next, we’ll dive into two of the most notable SoR research models: the simple view of reading and the 5 pillars of reading.
Simple View of Reading
The science of reading encompasses all evidence of what concepts matter and work in literacy instruction. The simple view of reading is a widely accepted model that describes how learning to read works. The model shows how reading comprehension is achieved. It was developed by Gough and Tunmer in 1986, and can be summed up in a simple formula:
Decoding Skills
Decoding is how we translate written symbols into sounds and words. It’s a critical early-reading skill and can be taught through systematic phonics instruction. When learning decoding abilities, students begin to correspond sounds and letters to each other. Then, they understand how to combine and blend these sounds and letters into words. The goal is to be able to do this automatically for both familiar and unfamiliar words.
Once students master decoding and learn to recognize sight words, they can focus more on comprehension in their reading curriculum.
Language Comprehension
Language comprehension is understanding spoken words in a sentence or dialouge. Students begin to derive meaning from the words and sentences they hear. Reading aloud and having conversations with young children is incredibly valuable for developing their language comprehension abilities.
Reading Comprehension
Decoding and language comprehension become reading comprehension when a student is able to derive meaning from printed text. In the simple view of reading, both decoding and language comprehension are needed to achieve reading comprehension. They are multiplied together, not added, meaning that both skill sets must be strong in order to get the full product (reading comprehension).
In the model, each factor (decoding and language comprehension) gets assigned a value between 0 and 1. 0 is considered no proficiency, and 1 is considered perfect proficiency. For instance, in a student, if decoding is at .5 proficiency but language comprehension is perfect, the product is only .5 proficiency for reading comprehension. Likewise, if decoding proficiency is .25 and language comprehension proficiency is .5, then reading comprehension proficiency is only .125.
With the simple view of reading, we know that decoding and language comprehension are needed when learning to read. Strength in one factor does not make up for deficiencies in the other. Weakness in one factor will exacerbate weakness in the other. A successful science of reading curriculum will focus on both aspects. The 5 pillars of reading further break down the abilities needed to read proficiently.
The 5 Pillars of Reading
Since the science of reading method has been around for decades, thousands of studies have been conducted to prove its effectiveness. One of the most influential studies, the National Reading Panel Report (2000), emphasized five components of effective reading instruction. Today, many researchers agree that focusing on these five components is effective and essential in early literacy instruction.
The five pillars of reading, also known as the five components of reading, are:
- Phonological awareness – identifying and manipulating sounds in verbal language
- Phonics recognition – teaching the connection between letters and sounds
- Reading fluency – smoothly reading words, sentences, and texts with accuracy and expression
- Vocabulary development – expanding word knowledge
- Text comprehension – understanding what one has read
These 5 pillars of reading form the foundation of literacy instruction. Considering these components when creating your science of reading curriculum can help ensure that your students develop the necessary skills to become proficient readers.
How To Use the Science of Reading Approach in Education
The science of reading examines how people learn to read. It isn’t a program or a product that you can purchase – instead, it’s a research-based method of teaching. In practice, SoR is learning to teach reading effectively and improve student literacy outcomes. It’s considering what science says when developing a reading curriculum.
Teachers can enhance literacy instruction by aligning it with what science reveals about reading development. Couple SoR principals with kinesthetic learning strategies – your literacy lessons will become energetic, effective, and fun!
Movement as an Effective Literacy Strategy
Movement-based learning, or kinesthetic learning, uses physical activity or interaction to teach students new concepts. It’s a hands-on approach in which new information is understood through movement and touch.
Young students who are learning to read often do not like sitting still with a book or worksheet for long periods of time. Allowing students to move around during literacy lessons can actually be very beneficial instead of struggling to keep them at their desks.
Some of the benefits of movement-based learning include:
- better comprehension and retention of new information
- increased student engagement
- improved student behavior (engaged students are less likely to be disruptive or antsy)
Physical activity increases oxygen levels in the blood and blood flow to the brain. As a result, the brain gets more oxygen and can function at optimal levels for learning. Additionally, while the body is moving around, the brain produces a protein called BDNF, which improves the function of neurons and encourages their growth!
Many students prefer to learn in a tactile manner. Math & Movement harnesses a child’s natural inclination for activity and turns it into enthusiasm for learning new math and literacy skills. Our goal is to have students moving throughout the school in a productive manner that allows them to learn effectively.
Our kinesthetic education products, including heavy-duty floor mats for hopping on, can be used to teach literary concepts in a way that aligns with the science of reading while providing the benefits of movement. We’re sharing some of our favorite literacy products and activities that can help educators focus on each of the 5 pillars of reading.
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Implement Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic awareness is an essential element of early literacy. It involves recognizing and manipulating sounds in spoken language. Since phonemic awareness is the first of the 5 pillars of reading, developing this phonemic sense in students is a great starting point for reading curriculums.
When teaching students how to read, include activities, like “The Make-A-Word Hop”, that will encourage them to identify and manipulate individual sounds in words. By blending sounds and playing sound-matching games, early readers will learn to recognize patterns in language and develop decoding skills.
Our Make-A-Word Hop mat allows preschool and kindergarten students to practice phonemic awareness and word building. The vinyl floor mat comes with 12 word cards and 11 letter cards to use as manipulatives. “The Make-A-Word Hop” activity explains itself in the name – students use the letter cards to make a word that is three letters long.
Start by placing three letters on the mat that form a word such as “hat.” Have your student stand below the first letter of the word. Ask the student to say the sound of the letter aloud. For example, for the word “hat”, the student would make the sound “hhhhh”. Then, the student side steps to the box below the second letter of the word and says the letter sound. Repeat this for the third letter.
Finally, the student side steps to the last box and blends the letter sounds altogether to say the word. Have the student jump three times, saying the word on each jump. Lastly, have the student find the corresponding word card and place it on the mat next to the spelled-out word. Change the word and repeat the activity!
Systematic Phonics Instruction
Systematic instruction of letter-to-sound relationships teaches students how to sound out words. While phonemic awareness is more of an auditory skill (knowing sounds in a spoken language), phonics recognition is a print-based skill. Here, students learn how written letters and letter combinations correspond to sounds. This skill takes phonemic awareness to the next level by connecting it to text.
Clear, step-by-step lessons starting with simple sounds and words and progressing to more complex letter patterns help young students develop their decoding skills further. The Spell-A-Word Hop allows students to practice phonics recognition with longer words.
The Spell-A-Word Hop allows students to spell words up to eight letters long (instead of only three letters on the Make-A-Word Hop). The vinyl mat comes with 48 letter cards to create words with. The “Spelling Word Phoneme Recognition” activity can be done with your student’s current spelling word list.
First, lay the letter cards for one of your student’s spelling words out on the mat. Ask your student to step on each letter and say all the sounds that the letter can make. Then, have them identify the sound that the letter makes in the particular spelling word.
For example, say you choose the spelling word “camera”. When your student steps on the “c” card, they should tell you that the letter c can make a hard “k” sound or a soft “s” sound. Have them identify the hard “k” sound as the correct sound in the word “camera.”
Developing Reading Fluency
When using the science of reading approach, provide opportunities for students to practice reading texts aloud. Reading familiar texts will help build fluency and reading comprehension. Practice reading in different tones. This also helps build students’ confidence and comfort with reading.
The 100 Word Hop mat features 100 sight words laid out in a colorful 10 x 10 grid. Activities on this mat allow students to apply phonics, reading fluency, and vocabulary knowledge.
For the activity called “Find the Word I Say”, first, write each word on an index card. Divide your students in small groups. Pick a word from the index cards and say it aloud. All groups will try to find the word on the amt. When a group finds the word, they send one student to jump to the word and stand on it. The group that identifies the word first gets one point. Play to a predetermined number of points.
Building Vocabulary
Integrate vocabulary instruction into your lessons by introducing new words regularly. Have students explore the meanings of new, unfamiliar words and use context clues to figure out their meanings. You can also encourage your students to use this vocabulary in their writing and discussions.
Our collection of 29 Word Hop Mats lists all 220 Dolch sight words in large text on colorful blocks. These mats are a great way to build vocabulary while jumping around the classroom!
The activity “Word Hopscotch” helps students with word recognition. First, have a student stand on “START HERE.” Then, have the student read the first word on the mat. Ask the student to hop on the word with one foot while simultaneously saying the word. Next, have the student read the next word on the mat and then jump with two feet on the word while simultaneously saying it aloud. Continue alternating between one-foot hops and two-footed jumps to the end of the mat.
Enhance Reading Comprehension Skills
Teach students how to make predictions when reading text. Have them ask and answer questions about the text and summarize the content. Opening discussions about what they read will also help build reading comprehension skills. This last component brings all 5 pillars of reading together.
The Advanced 100 Word Hop features 100 more words that are more challenging than those on the original 100 Word Hop.
The activity “Word Search” can be done using this mat and a book your students are reading. Call out a word that is both on the mat and in your students’ book. Let a student who thinks they found the word jump to it on the mat. If they are correct, have them spell the word aloud. Ask them how the word relates to their reading or the story in their book. This activity helps students recall, discuss, and understand what they just read.
Why Literacy Education and the Science of Reading is Important
Recent data shows significant challenges in reading proficiency among elementary students in the U.S. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), in 2022, only 33% of fourth graders and 31% of eighth graders were reading at or above the proficient level. This was a decrease from 2019 findings.
The NAEP states that students at the proficient level “demonstrate solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter.” In reading, this includes skills such as determining the meaning of words from context, drawing conclusions from a text, and developing opinions with support from a text.
This data reveals that there is a critical need for an effective science of reading curriculum and literacy instruction. Around the country, several factors contribute to these challenges, including differences in educational resources and instructional methods. In order to address these issues, there is a growing emphasis on adopting evidence-based practices, such as those outlined in the SoR, to ensure that all students receive the foundational skills necessary to become proficient readers.
The Science of Reading: A Powerful Framework for Teaching
A science of reading curriculum can be a powerful framework for teaching young students how to read. Understanding the science of reading equips educators with a power, evidence-based approach to teaching literacy. By using the 5 pillars of reading – phonological awareness, phonics recognition, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension – teachers can support students in developing the foundational skills they need to become proficient readers.
Furthermore, incorporating kinesthetic activities into reading instruction can enhance engagement and lesson retention, making learning both effective and enjoyable.
As research continues to evolve, aligning instruction with the science of reading ensures that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to become a confident and competent reader. Math & Movement is here to help make that happen while making reading fun and active.