There's More to the "Science of Reading" Than Phonics
My review of a new book from Doug Lemov, Colleen Driggs and Erica Woolway
At The 74 this week I review a new book from Doug Lemov, Colleen Driggs and Erica Woolway called The Teach Like a Champion Guide to the Science of Reading.
As I write in my review, the book is NOT about phonics:
When people hear the “science of reading,” they might (mistakenly) equate it with phonics, but the authors spend little time on those core foundational skills. In fact, they take systematic phonics instruction in grades K-3 as the assumed starting point for literacy instruction and note that their book is about “the science of reading beyond phonics (emphasis theirs).”
Instead, it’s a book intended to help teachers implement all the other important—but often neglected—aspects of the science of reading. That starts with fluency but also includes vocabulary, content knowledge, and writing.
Most importantly, the authors want kids to be reading and engaging with high-quality texts, as early as and as often as possible. How to do that? Here’s more from my review:
It’s not as simple as putting good books in front of students, because if [students] can’t read the words on the page quickly and easily, they will struggle to comprehend and make meaning out of the text. The authors cite an Italian study that found, “reading fluency predicted all school marks in all literacy-based subjects, with reading rapidity being the most important predictor.”
In response, the authors suggest that, “The best way by far to improve fluency is to provide students opportunities to hear, read and reread text aloud.”
The book is full of practical tips and embedded QR codes that take readers to videos of teachers putting those strategies into practice.
Read my full review here, or buy the book here.
Reading List
Aldeman: When high school grads can’t do math
Michelle Caracappa: What If Our Approach to Intervention is Just Making Things Worse?
Jorge Elorza and Ben Austin: America faces an eduction depression. Why are Democrats silent?
Elizabeth Statmore: San Francisco’s Algebra plan is the opposite of equity
InsideHigherEd: “the net price of four-year tuition continues to drop or remain steady for all but the highest-income students”
Liz Farmer: Fiscal pressures are heating up in some of America’s largest cities