Structured Literacy in the upper grades is a comprehensive, explicit, and systematic approach to teaching reading and writing that focuses on mastering foundational language skills and then applying them to more complex texts and concepts. It ensures that even older students receive targeted instruction in areas like phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and discourse-level language to improve their literacy proficiency.
Here's a breakdown of what structured literacy entails for older students:
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Focus on Foundational Skills: Even in upper grades, a review or targeted instruction in basic skills may be necessary. This includes:
- Phonology: Understanding the sound structure of words (phonemes). For example, explicitly teaching about consonant blends and digraphs within multisyllabic words.
- Morphology: Understanding word parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots). For example, analyzing how the prefix "pre-" changes the meaning of words like "view," "judge," and "determine."
- Orthography: Understanding the spelling patterns and rules of the English language. Explicitly teaching spelling rules, including vowel patterns and rules for adding suffixes.
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Systematic and Cumulative Instruction: Concepts are taught in a logical sequence, building upon previously learned skills. Each skill is directly taught and practiced before moving on to the next, with continuous review and reinforcement.
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Explicit Instruction: The teacher directly and clearly explains the skills being taught, rather than relying on students to discover them on their own. This is critical for students who have struggled with reading in the past.
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Multisensory Strategies: Incorporating visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile learning activities. For example, using graphic organizers to visually represent sentence structure or manipulating word parts to understand morphology.
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Diagnostic and Responsive Teaching: Regularly assessing student progress and adjusting instruction based on their needs. This includes using formal and informal assessments to identify areas where students are struggling and providing targeted interventions.
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Emphasis on Reading Comprehension: While focusing on foundational skills, structured literacy simultaneously emphasizes reading comprehension strategies, such as:
- Vocabulary Development: Explicitly teaching the meaning of new words and how to use them in context.
- Text Structure: Understanding how different types of texts are organized (e.g., narrative, expository).
- Inference: Drawing conclusions based on information presented in the text.
- Summarization: Condensing the main ideas of a text.
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Writing Instruction: Structured literacy also incorporates explicit and systematic writing instruction. This includes:
- Sentence Structure: Understanding how to construct grammatically correct and complex sentences.
- Paragraph Organization: Learning how to write coherent and well-organized paragraphs.
- Essay Writing: Developing skills in writing different types of essays (e.g., persuasive, informative).
| Component | Description | Example in Upper Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Phonology | Understanding the sound structure of words. | Analyzing complex multisyllabic words and their individual phonemes. |
| Morphology | Understanding word parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots). | Dissecting academic vocabulary with Latin and Greek roots. |
| Orthography | Understanding spelling patterns and rules. | Learning advanced spelling rules and exceptions. |
| Syntax | Understanding sentence structure and grammar. | Analyzing complex sentence structures in sophisticated texts. |
| Semantics | Understanding the meaning of words and sentences. | Exploring figurative language and nuances of word meaning. |
| Discourse Level Lang | Understanding how language is used in different contexts (conversation, reading, and writing). | Analyzing and creating various types of texts (e.g., persuasive essays, research papers). |
In conclusion, structured literacy in the upper grades is not simply a remedial approach but a comprehensive framework that ensures all older students, regardless of their prior literacy experiences, have the skills they need to succeed in reading, writing, and academic learning. It provides targeted instruction and ongoing support to help students develop the advanced literacy skills required for college and career readiness.
