Science of Reading at LTPS
What is the Science of Reading?
The science of reading refers to the body of research and understanding about how the human brain processes written language and how individuals learn to read. This field of study investigates the underlying processes involved in reading, including how we recognize letters, associate them with sounds (phonics), comprehend the meaning of words and sentences, and ultimately extract information from written text.
Key components of the science of reading include:
Phonological Awareness: This refers to the ability to identify and manipulate the individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken language. Phonological awareness lays the foundation for phonics, which involves connecting these sounds to letters and letter combinations.
Phonics: Phonics involves understanding the correspondence between letters or letter patterns and the sounds they represent. It's a crucial skill for decoding words while reading and encoding words while writing.
Vocabulary Development: A rich vocabulary is essential for understanding written text. Learning the meanings of words and their usage in various contexts enhances reading comprehension.
Fluency: Fluency is the ability to read text accurately, quickly, and with proper expression. Fluent readers can focus on understanding the content rather than struggling with individual words.
Comprehension: Reading comprehension involves deriving meaning from text. It includes making inferences, connecting ideas, and understanding the author's purpose and perspective.
Background Knowledge: A reader's prior knowledge and experiences play a significant role in understanding new information. Text comprehension is enhanced when readers can relate what they're reading to their existing knowledge.
Working Memory: Reading requires holding and manipulating information in working memory, allowing readers to process and connect different parts of the text.
Cognitive Processes: Cognitive processes such as attention, visual processing, and memory contribute to efficient reading. Understanding how these processes work together provides insights into effective reading strategies.
The science of reading has profound implications for education. Evidence-based practices that align with the findings from this field can improve literacy instruction. For example, the science of reading suggests that explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, systematic phonics instruction, vocabulary building, and comprehension strategies are essential for promoting strong reading skills. By understanding and applying the principles of the science of reading, educators and parents can better support individuals in becoming proficient and enthusiastic readers.
To foster these skills, parents can engage in activities that promote phonemic awareness (like rhyming games), encourage regular reading, provide access to a diverse range of books, discuss stories together, and create a supportive environment where reading is enjoyable and celebrated. By grasping these underlying principles, parents can play a pivotal role in nurturing their children's reading abilities and lifelong love for learning.
What Does This Look Like in Lawrence?
Orton-Gillingham Through The Institute for Multisensory Education (IMSE)
Our language arts curriculum is Lawrence is designed around the research and science of reading. We are transitioning to the Orton-Gillingham reading approach using the scope and sequence and materials from the Institute for Multisensory Education. Kindergarten, 1st grade, and special education classrooms will begin this in the fall of 2023, with 2nd and 3rd grade implementing in the fall of 2024.
All of our K, 1 and Special Education teachers have attended the 30-hour IMSE Orton-Gillingham training. Our long-range plan is for all Kindergarten through fifth teachers to be trained and using the IMSE resources appropriate to their grade level over the next few years.