Structured literacy is an approach to teaching oral and written language based on the science of how kids learn to read, particularly beneficial for those who struggle. The International Dyslexia Association coined the term. Let's break down what this means.
Understanding Structured Literacy
Structured literacy is more than just a method; it's a systematic and explicit way to teach reading and writing. It emphasizes foundational language skills and is especially effective for students with dyslexia or other reading difficulties.
Key Components of Structured Literacy
Structured literacy focuses on teaching the following elements of language in a direct and systematic way:
- Phonology: Understanding the sound structure of language, including phonemes (individual sounds) and how they blend together.
- Sound-Symbol Association (Phonics): Learning the relationships between letters and sounds.
- Syllable Instruction: Understanding syllable types and patterns to decode longer words.
- Morphology: Studying morphemes (the smallest units of meaning in a language) like prefixes, suffixes, and root words.
- Syntax: Learning the rules of sentence structure and grammar.
- Semantics: Understanding the meaning of words and sentences.
Why is Structured Literacy Important?
Traditional reading instruction sometimes assumes children will naturally "pick up" reading skills. However, many students, particularly those with dyslexia, require explicit and systematic instruction in these foundational skills. Structured literacy provides this.
Benefits of Structured Literacy
- Effective for all students: While particularly helpful for struggling readers, structured literacy benefits all students by providing a solid foundation in reading and writing.
- Evidence-based: It's grounded in research on how the brain learns to read.
- Systematic and cumulative: Skills are taught in a logical order, building upon previously learned concepts.
- Explicit instruction: Concepts are taught directly and clearly, leaving no room for guesswork.
- Diagnostic teaching: Instruction is tailored to meet individual student needs based on ongoing assessment.
Example of Structured Literacy in Practice
Instead of asking a child to guess a word based on context clues, a structured literacy approach would teach the child to decode the word by sounding it out, breaking it into syllables, and identifying any known morphemes.
Comparison with Other Approaches
| Feature | Structured Literacy | Traditional/Balanced Literacy |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Systematic, explicit, and cumulative | Often implicit, less structured |
| Focus | Foundational language skills | Reading comprehension, context clues |
| Target Audience | All students, especially those with reading difficulties | Assumes most students learn naturally |
Structured literacy provides a research-backed approach to reading instruction that equips students with the necessary skills to become proficient readers and writers.
