The Science of Reading

Know Your Facts

With the science of reading continuing to gain traction in literacy instruction, it is natural that myths and misconceptions pop up, clouding the reality for educators. Check out this handy chart that debunks some of the most commonly held misbeliefs to strengthen your understanding of the science of reading.

Myth:

Reading is natural.

Fact:

The brain is not wired to read naturally; it must learn to connect visual word forms with language processing areas through explicit, systematic phonics instruction. The Simple View of Reading framework developed by Philip Gough and William Tunmer in 1986 emphasizes that reading comprehension is a product of decoding and language comprehension.

Decoding x Language Comprehension = Reading Comprehension

Myth:

The science of reading emphasizes phonics exclusively.

Fact:

The science of reading encompasses five key areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. While phonics is crucial, balanced instruction in all these areas is essential for developing proficient readers. Returning to the Simple View of Reading framework:

The Simple View of Reading

Decoding x Language Comprehension = Reading Comprehension

Phonemic Awareness

Phonics

Vocabulary

Text Comprehension

Fluency

Oral Language

(Gough & Tunmer, 1986; Hoover & Tunmer, 1990; Tunmer & Chapman, 2012)

Myth:

Phonics instruction "drills and kills" students' love of reading.

Fact:

Mastery of reading skills through systematic instruction including phonics, in addition to the other instructional pillars of the science of reading, fosters confidence and enjoyment in reading. The goal is to provide students with the skills to choose what they want to read and enjoy independently.

Myth:

The science of reading is a curriculum.

Fact:

The science of reading is not a purchasable curriculum but a vast, interdisciplinary body of research about reading. Effective reading instruction requires knowledgeable teachers who understand and apply the principles of the science of reading, rather than relying solely on pre-packaged curricula.

Lexia® offers evidenced-based professional development and instructional literacy programs that ensure every teacher and student receives the learning support they deserve. All students can see themselves represented in Lexia's products, and 95% of students can learn to read with Lexia's science of reading-based methods that meet their diverse learning needs.

Now that you’ve seen a glimpse of the science of reading in its true light and know how Lexia’s instructional strategies support literacy acquisition for students, it’s time to dig deeper and check out the evidence backing up the facts: "Does the Science of Reading Really Work?"

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