Effective reading instruction: structured literacy

Researchers have worked for many years to understand how children learn to read and why some children struggle. Structured literacy is an approach to instruction based on the findings of this research. It is the best way we know how to ensure that all children, including those at risk for dyslexia, get off to a good start with reading. Structured literacy is a framework for teaching reading that is supported by research. The structured literacy approach defines both what’s taught and how it’s taught.

What is taught

In structured literacy, all the basic building blocks of reading and writing are taught. The key skills include:

• Phonemic awareness is working with the sounds of language, such as blending sounds together into words, and segmenting or breaking words apart into individual sounds.
• Phonics is learning the predictable relationship between speech sounds and the letters or letter combinations that represent them, like how the /t/ sound is spelled with a <t> or how the long /ā/ sound can be spelled with <ai> as in train or <ay> as in play, among others.
• Morphology is the units of meaning in words, like prefixes, suffixes, and bases. For example, the word misunderstanding can be split into the prefix “mis” + the base “understand” + and the suffix “ing.” Knowing about, and being aware of, the units of meaning in words helps students understand what they read.
• Vocabulary is knowing the meanings of words that can be used when speaking and writing, and understood when listening and reading.
• Syntax is learning the rules for how words are combined to make sentences. This includes sentence structure and the different parts of speech.
• Fluency is the ability to read aloud accurately, with expression, and at an appropriate rate or speed.
• Comprehension is understanding and interpreting what is read, including words, sentences, and longer passages.
• Writing is expressing thoughts, ideas, and information in written form, which requires skills in spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and organizing and developing ideas.

How it is taught

Structured literacy doesn’t just outline what content students are taught; it also emphasizes a specific way to teach this content. Structured literacy is:

• Explicit: Skills are taught directly and clearly. Teachers give clear instructions and explanations, using examples and non-examples to help students understand each concept or strategy.
• Systematic: Instruction follows a logical order, starting with simple concepts and moving to more complex ones. This step-by-step approach helps students gradually build their knowledge.
• Interactive: Students actively participate in learning by responding to teacher prompts. This engagement helps them understand and remember the skills being taught.
• Data-driven: Teaching is guided by ongoing assessments of student progress. Teachers use these data to adjust lessons to fit each child’s needs and ensure their skills are improving.
• Cumulative: New learning builds on what students have already learned. It constantly revisits and reviews things that have been previously taught. This approach helps them integrate and apply their knowledge effectively.