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Structured Literacy Framework

During the 2023/2024 academic year, we will be engaging in the Science of Reading/ Structured Literacy approach to cultivate our K-3rd grade students to become skillful readers.

The science of reading is a vast, interdisciplinary body of scientifically-based research about reading and components related to reading and writing.  This research has been conducted over the last five decades across the world, and it is derived from thousands of studies conducted in multiple languages.  The science of reading has culminated in a preponderance of evidence to inform how proficient reading and writing develop; what some have difficulty; and how we can most effectively assess and teach.

 

 

 

Structured literacy follows a specific order to teach reading, from simple to more complex skills, based on how we know people’s brains work. It is also very direct. Teachers focus on the exact skills that students need to know to go from speech to printed words. Structured literacy is hands-on learning with lots of practice, review, and correction of errors as students learn their new skills. Structured literacy teaching can begin in early childhood and continue through high school. 

 

Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are paired with one another to teach reading skills. It looks like:

• Teaching letter names and sounds

• Sounding out letters and how they blend together into words

• Building words with letter tiles and other objects 

• Tapping or clapping out sounds and syllables in words

• Using a word mapping chart to show students how each separate sound in a word is made up of one or more letters

• Making sentences with words on cards  

• Color-coding sentences in paragraphs

 

You will have additional opportunities to learn about the Science of Reading/ Structured Literacy approach during the academic year.  We understand the realities of a busy home life.  Here is a way to practice Reading/Literacy at home:  Supporting Literacy at Home (2).pdf.  Lastly, here are a few adjustments which will take place when implementing our Structured Literacy approach:

  • Homework and reading materials that are sent home may look different.  Be patient with teachers and give them time to get routines underway.

  • Teachers will not assign an A-Z reading level to your student. 

  • Key Components of the new framework include:

    • Phonics instruction using Fundations 

    • Phonemic awareness instruction using Heggerty 

    • Small group instruction based on areas of student need

 

We hope you have a fantastic academic year!

 

Sincerely, 

 

  • Department of Curriculum and Assessment