21st Century Schools: The Science of Reading: “The How”

Let’s remember that The Science of Reading is NOT a program. It is a body of research that has spanned more than 50 years. The research is focused on “The What”. It is critical here to make this distinction because a program cannot provide the necessary interaction or well-developed HOT(Higher-Order-Thinking ) questions that will deepen students’ thinking about the texts. Ok so let’s begin a simple outline that can be adjusted based on your student’s needs.

• Text Sets: Two or more GRADE-LEVEL texts aligned to your State standards. My advice is to select informational or non-fiction standards first until you become proficient with this method of planning. Two or more grade-level texts on a topic increases background knowledge which increases learning.
• Vocabulary: You need to select Tier 2 AND Tier 3 words from the text sets that you have chosen to use. Ensure that these vocabulary words are central to the overall meaning of the texts and words your students do not know yet.
• Language Structure-Verbal Reasoning: Utilizing grade-level text that is COMPLEX is what forces students to reread and think critically.
• Writing: I am making a WRITING a strand because of the massive benefits it provides to deepen comprehension and overall learning.
• Writing: A writing task that is text-based will increase learning of the content and ensure that students have sufficiently achieved mastery of the standards.
• NOTE: This model of teaching should be applied to all content areas that incorporate texts. (Social Studies, Science, Technical subjects)