Structured Literacy is the practical application of the science of reading, offering an evidence-based and systematic way to teach children how to read. In essence, it takes the research findings about how the brain learns to read and translates them into effective teaching practices.
Key Components of Structured Literacy
A Structured Literacy approach thoughtfully integrates several key skills derived from the science of reading. These skills are not taught in isolation but woven together to create a cohesive and effective literacy program.
- Phonology: Understanding the sound structure of language, including phonemes (individual sounds), syllables, and rhyme.
- Sound-Symbol Association (Phonics): Explicitly teaching the relationships between letters and sounds. This is crucial for decoding words.
- Syllable Instruction: Teaching syllable types and patterns to help students decode multisyllabic words.
- Morphology: Understanding morphemes (the smallest meaningful units of language, such as prefixes, suffixes, and root words) to build vocabulary and comprehension.
- Syntax: Understanding sentence structure and grammar rules to improve comprehension.
- Semantics: Understanding the meaning of words and sentences to enhance reading comprehension.
Why Structured Literacy Matters
- Evidence-Based: Grounded in decades of research on how children learn to read most effectively.
- Systematic and Explicit: Skills are taught in a logical sequence, with clear and direct instruction.
- Cumulative: Builds upon previously learned skills, ensuring a strong foundation.
- Diagnostic: Allows teachers to identify specific areas where students are struggling and provide targeted interventions.
- Addresses Foundational Skills: Focuses on the core skills necessary for successful reading, benefiting all students, especially those with reading difficulties like dyslexia. According to the reference, "Structured Literacy is the application of knowledge from the science of reading that teaches children to read in an evidence-based and systematic way."
Examples of Structured Literacy in Practice
Imagine a first-grade classroom where the teacher is introducing the concept of short vowel sounds.
- Phonological Awareness: Students might start by orally blending sounds: "What word do we get if we put together /c/ /a/ /t/?"
- Phonics: The teacher would then explicitly teach the sound-spelling correspondence: "The letter 'a' often makes the /a/ sound, like in apple."
- Reading and Spelling: Students then practice reading and spelling words with the short 'a' sound, such as cat, hat, and mat.
- Decodable Text: Students read a short story made up of words they can decode based on the phonics skills they have learned.
Structured Literacy vs. Balanced Literacy
| Feature | Structured Literacy | Balanced Literacy |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Explicit and systematic | Implicit and meaning-based |
| Focus | Decoding and phonics | Whole language and sight words |
| Evidence-Based | High | Varied, with some practices not supported by research |
| Best For | All learners, especially struggling readers | Typically developing readers |
