In recent years, the education field has seen a growing interest in evidence-based literacy strategies as educators work to confront the nationwide reading crisis. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only one-third of fourth and eighth graders in the United States are able to read at grade level. This alarming statistic underscores the need for more effective reading instruction methods in our schools. To address this problem, the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) has developed proven teacher training programs to equip educators for lasting success within a Structured Literacy curriculum.
Structured Literacy is an approach grounded in the science of reading, designed to meet the needs of all students, including those who struggle the most, like students with dyslexia. A Structured Literacy curriculum provides systematic, explicit instruction in the foundational skills necessary for reading success. This article demonstrates how a Structured Literacy curriculum can transform your classroom and help your students become proficient readers.
Structured Literacy Boosts Academic Progress
Educators across the country are discovering the power of Structured Literacy as a teaching method that significantly boosts academic progress. Structured Literacy is particularly effective because it is grounded in how the brain learns to read. This approach emphasizes the importance of direct, explicit instruction in the essential components of reading, such as phonemic awareness, phonics, and comprehension strategies.
Research supports the effectiveness of Structured Literacy, particularly for students with dyslexia, who make up as much as 20% of the student population. Moreover, studies show that 95% of students can learn to read when taught with a Structured Literacy curriculum. This approach not only benefits students with learning difficulties but also supports all students in developing strong reading skills.
The Structured Literacy method solves key challenges that educators face, such as meeting diverse student needs, ensuring that students read at grade level, and providing a systematic, cumulative approach to reading instruction. By implementing a Structured Literacy curriculum, educators can help students overcome reading challenges and achieve academic success.
Components of a Structured Literacy Curriculum
The curriculum is built on the essential principles of Structured Literacy, ensuring that all components of reading are taught systematically and explicitly. Here are the key elements:
Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. It is a critical skill for developing reading proficiency because it forms the foundation for understanding the alphabetic principle, the concept that letters and letter patterns represent the sounds of spoken language. Phonemic awareness activities help students become more aware of the sounds within words, which is essential for reading and spelling.
Explicit instruction in phonemic awareness involves teaching students to identify, segment, blend, and manipulate phonemes in words. These skills are particularly important for students with dyslexia, who often struggle with phonological awareness. Incorporating daily phonemic awareness exercises in the curriculum can significantly improve students’ reading abilities.
Sound-Symbol Correspondence
Sound-symbol correspondence, also known as the alphabetic principle, is the understanding that there is a systematic relationship between the sounds of spoken language and the letters or groups of letters that represent those sounds in written language. This concept is fundamental to learning to read and spell. Students need to be explicitly taught how to match phonemes (sounds) with their corresponding graphemes (letters or letter combinations).
In a Structured Literacy curriculum, sound-symbol association is taught in a systematic and cumulative manner. This means that instruction begins with the most basic sound-symbol correspondences and gradually progresses to more complex patterns. By teaching these correspondences explicitly, educators can ensure that all students, including those with dyslexia, develop a strong foundation in reading.
Orthography
Orthography refers to the conventions of a written language, including spelling patterns, punctuation, and capitalization. Understanding orthography is essential for students to become proficient readers and writers. In a Structured Literacy curriculum, explicit instruction in orthography helps students learn the rules and patterns of spelling, which are often more complex than they appear.
Orthographic instruction should be integrated into reading and writing activities, with a focus on teaching students the regularities and irregularities of the English spelling system. For students with dyslexia, who often struggle with spelling, this instruction is particularly important. By teaching orthographic patterns in a structured and cumulative manner, educators can help students develop the skills they need to become proficient readers and writers.
Morphemes
Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in a language, and understanding them is crucial for vocabulary development and reading comprehension. Explicit instruction in morphemes, such as prefixes, suffixes, and root words, helps students break down complex words into manageable parts. This knowledge is especially beneficial for students as they encounter more challenging texts.
Incorporating morpheme instruction into a Structured Literacy curriculum enables students to understand the meaning of new words by analyzing their components. This approach not only improves vocabulary but also enhances reading comprehension, as students can better understand the meaning of unfamiliar words in context.
Syntax
Syntax refers to the rules that govern the structure of sentences. Understanding syntax is essential for reading comprehension because it helps students make sense of the relationships between words and phrases within a sentence. In a Structured Literacy curriculum, explicit instruction in syntax helps students learn how to construct and interpret sentences correctly.
Educators should teach students about different sentence structures, the roles of various parts of speech, and how to combine words to form meaningful sentences. For students with dyslexia, who may struggle with reading comprehension, explicit instruction in syntax can provide the tools they need to better understand complex texts.
Semantics
Semantics is the study of meaning in language, and it plays a critical role in reading comprehension. Understanding semantics involves knowing the meanings of words, phrases, and sentences, as well as how these meanings can change depending on context. In a Structured Literacy curriculum, explicit instruction in semantics helps students develop a deeper understanding of language.
Teachers should provide students with opportunities to explore word meanings, use context clues to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words, and analyze how word choices affect the meaning of a text. By incorporating semantic instruction into your curriculum, you can help students become more proficient readers who can navigate complex texts with confidence.
Is the Orton-Gillingham Method an Effective Structured Literacy Approach?
The Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach is one of the most well-known and widely used methods within the arena of Structured Literacy. Developed in the 1930s by Dr. Samuel Orton and educator Anna Gillingham, this approach is specifically designed to help students with dyslexia learn to read.
The OG approach is multisensory, meaning it engages multiple senses—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic—during instruction. This multisensory feature helps reinforce learning and makes it easier for students to retain information. The OG method also emphasizes explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction, which aligns perfectly with the principles of Structured Literacy.
Educators who use the Orton-Gillingham approach report significant improvements in their students’ reading abilities, particularly for students with dyslexia. This approach is effective because it addresses the specific learning needs of these students, providing them with the tools they need to decode words, understand their meanings, and read fluently. For any Structured Literacy curriculum, incorporating Orton-Gillingham techniques can be a powerful way to support all learners, especially those who struggle with traditional reading instruction.
Teachers Make Structured Literacy More Effective
While a well-designed Structured Literacy curriculum is essential, the role of the teacher is equally important in making this approach effective. Teachers are the ones who deliver the instruction, monitor student progress, and make necessary adjustments to meet the needs of all learners. Professional training is crucial for educators to effectively teach Structured Literacy. This training should focus on the principles and practices of Structured Literacy, including explicit instruction, phonemic awareness, and cumulative instruction.
In addition to training, teachers need ongoing support from specialists and coaches who can help them organize lessons, provide feedback, and address any challenges that arise. This support is particularly important when working with students with dyslexia, who may require more intensive instruction and frequent assessment to monitor their progress.
Teachers also play a vital role in gathering and analyzing student data to inform instruction. Regular assessments help educators identify areas where students may be struggling and adjust the curriculum accordingly. By using data to guide instruction, teachers can ensure that their Structured Literacy curriculum is meeting the needs of all students, helping them become proficient readers.
Incorporate a Solid Structured Literacy Curriculum with IMSE!
Incorporating Structured Literacy into your curriculum is one of the most effective ways to improve reading outcomes for all students, especially those with dyslexia. IMSE offers comprehensive training and resources for educators looking to implement a Structured Literacy curriculum in their classrooms. IMSE’s approach is grounded in the science of reading and is designed to meet the diverse needs of students.
With IMSE, educators can access high-quality professional development, instructional materials, and ongoing support to help them design and implement a Structured Literacy curriculum that works. By partnering with IMSE, you can ensure that your students receive the evidence-based instruction they need to succeed in reading and beyond.
FAQs About Structured Literacy Curriculum
What are the four principles of Structured Literacy?
The four principles of Structured Literacy are explicit instruction, systematic instruction, cumulative instruction, and diagnostic teaching. These principles guide the teaching process, ensuring that students receive clear, structured, and responsive instruction tailored to their individual needs.
What are 6 key features of the Structured Literacy approach?
The six key features of the Structured Literacy approach are phonology, sound-symbol association, syllable instruction, morphology, syntax, and semantics. These components are taught explicitly and systematically to build a strong foundation in reading.
What are the three characteristics of Structured Literacy?
Structured Literacy helps students master fundamental reading skills using explicit instruction, systematic and cumulative instruction, and diagnostic teaching with responsive feedback.
What is the goal of Structured Literacy?
The goal of Structured Literacy is to ensure that all students, regardless of their reading abilities, develop the foundational skills necessary to become proficient readers. The approach accomplishes that goal by providing clear instruction in the key components of reading, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
With a Structured Literacy curriculum as the foundation of your literacy instruction, all your students can achieve sustained reading progress no matter their starting point.
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