Decoding Success: How Structured Literacy Instruction Supports Readers

Understanding Structured Literacy: A Primer for Parents

What is structured literacy instruction? It is a systematic, explicit approach to teaching reading that helps children recognize the connections between letters and sounds, build vocabulary, and improve comprehension. This method is not just for children with reading difficulties; it benefits all early readers.

Here’s a snapshot of what structured literacy involves:

• Explicit Phonics Instruction: Direct teaching of sound-letter relationships.
• Systematic Approach: Lessons are organized in a specific, logical sequence.
• Integrated Skills: Combines listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
• Comprehension Strategies: Focuses on making meaning from text.

I am Jen Jones, a literacy expert with over 30 years of experience. I've devoted my career to helping children succeed in reading by using structured literacy instruction. My work spans classroom teaching, professional development, and creating accessible phonics-based materials. Let's dig deeper into how structured literacy can transform your child's reading experience.

What is Structured Literacy Instruction?

Structured literacy instruction is a comprehensive and systematic approach to teaching reading. It is designed to help all students, especially those with dyslexia or other reading difficulties, by focusing on explicit teaching of essential reading skills.

Key Components of Structured Literacy

Structured literacy instruction includes several key components that are crucial for developing reading proficiency:

• Phonology: This is the study of the sound structure of spoken words. Phonological awareness involves recognizing and manipulating sounds in words, such as rhyming and syllable counting. An important part of phonology is phonemic awareness, which is the ability to segment words into their individual sounds (phonemes). For example, the word cat has three phonemes: /k/, /æ/, /t/.

• Sound-Symbol Association: This involves teaching students how to map sounds to letters (phonics). Students learn to connect phonemes to their corresponding letters and blend these sounds to form words. This skill is taught in both directions: from sound to symbol (reading) and from symbol to sound (spelling).

• Syllables: Understanding syllables is essential for reading longer words. Structured literacy instruction includes teaching the six basic syllable types in English, such as closed, open, and vowel-consonant-e. Knowing these types helps students decode words more accurately.

• Morphology: This is the study of the smallest units of meaning in a language, known as morphemes. Students learn about roots, prefixes, and suffixes, which helps them understand the meaning of complex words. For example, in the word unhappiness, un- is a prefix, happy is the root, and -ness is a suffix.

• Syntax: Syntax involves the rules that govern the structure of sentences. Teaching syntax helps students understand how words function within sentences to convey meaning. This includes grammar and sentence variation.

• Semantics: Semantics is the study of meaning in language. Students learn to comprehend and interpret the meaning of words and sentences, which is crucial for reading comprehension.

Benefits of Structured Literacy

Structured literacy offers numerous benefits, making it an effective approach for all students and particularly beneficial for those with dyslexia:

• Effective for All Students: Research shows that structured literacy is effective for all students, regardless of their reading abilities. It provides a strong foundation in reading skills that benefits everyone.

• Especially Helpful for Dyslexia: Structured literacy is essential for students with dyslexia. It provides the explicit, systematic instruction they need to overcome reading difficulties. According to the International Dyslexia Association, this approach is critical for helping dyslexic students succeed.

• Improves Reading Skills: By focusing on phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, and comprehension, structured literacy helps students develop strong reading skills. This approach ensures that students understand the mechanics of reading and can apply this knowledge to read and understand texts.

• Systematic and Cumulative: Structured literacy is both systematic and cumulative. Instruction follows a logical sequence, starting with the simplest concepts and gradually progressing to more complex ones. Each new skill builds on previously learned skills, ensuring a solid understanding of reading fundamentals.

Structured literacy instruction integrates all these components to create a comprehensive reading program. This approach not only helps students decode words but also improves their overall language comprehension, setting them up for long-term reading success.

Next, we'll explore how structured literacy differs from other reading approaches and why it stands out as a superior method for teaching reading.

How Structured Literacy Differs from Other Approaches

Structured Literacy vs. Balanced Literacy

Structured Literacy and Balanced Literacy are two approaches to teaching reading, but they differ significantly in their methodologies and focus areas.

Explicit Instruction vs. Implicit Learning
Structured Literacy relies on explicit instruction, where teachers clearly and directly teach reading skills. Every lesson is planned and follows a logical order, ensuring no step is skipped. In contrast, Balanced Literacy often depends on implicit learning, where students are expected to pick up reading skills through exposure to text and literature.

Systematic Approach
Structured Literacy follows a systematic approach. This means lessons are sequential and cumulative, starting with basic phonics and gradually building to more complex skills. Balanced Literacy, on the other hand, tends to be more flexible and less structured, often integrating phonics instruction as needed rather than following a strict sequence.

Phonics Emphasis
In Structured Literacy, phonics is a cornerstone. It teaches students to decode words by understanding the relationship between sounds and letters. Balanced Literacy includes phonics but often emphasizes comprehension and context clues more heavily, sometimes leading students to guess words rather than decode them.

Decoding Strategies
Structured Literacy equips students with specific decoding strategies, ensuring they can read new words independently. Balanced Literacy might use strategies like the “three cueing system,” which encourages guessing based on context, syntax, or visual cues—methods that are less reliable for struggling readers.

Structured Literacy vs. Orton-Gillingham

While Structured Literacy and Orton-Gillingham share many similarities, there are some distinctions worth noting.

Methodologies
Orton-Gillingham is a specific, highly structured, multi-sensory approach to reading instruction. It breaks down reading and spelling into smaller skills involving letters and sounds, and builds on these skills over time. Structured Literacy is an umbrella term that includes Orton-Gillingham but also encompasses other programs that align with the Science of Reading.

Five Pillars of Literacy
Both approaches address the five pillars of literacy: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. However, Structured Literacy often incorporates additional elements like language comprehension, spelling, and writing, providing a more holistic framework.

Language Comprehension
Structured Literacy places a strong emphasis on language comprehension. This means not only teaching students to decode words but also ensuring they understand what they read. Orton-Gillingham also focuses on comprehension but is particularly intensive on the phonics and decoding aspects.

Spelling and Writing
In Structured Literacy, spelling and writing are integral parts of the curriculum. This approach ensures that students can both read and write effectively, reinforcing their understanding of phonics and language structure. Orton-Gillingham similarly emphasizes spelling and writing but does so within its specific multi-sensory framework.

In summary, both Structured Literacy and Orton-Gillingham offer robust methods for teaching reading, especially for students with dyslexia. However, Structured Literacy's broader framework and inclusion of additional literacy components make it a comprehensive approach suitable for all learners.

Next, we'll dive into how to implement Structured Literacy in the classroom, ensuring every student gets the best possible start in their reading journey.

Implementing Structured Literacy in the Classroom

Strategies for Effective Instruction

Teacher-Led Instruction

Structured Literacy thrives on teacher-led instruction. Teachers guide students through each step, ensuring they understand before moving on. This direct approach allows for immediate feedback and correction, which is crucial for mastering new skills.

Explicit Modeling

In Structured Literacy, explicit modeling is key. Teachers demonstrate reading and writing strategies, thinking aloud as they go. This helps students see the process and understand how to apply it themselves.

Systematic Sequence

A systematic sequence ensures that skills are taught in a logical order. Students start with simple concepts and gradually move to more complex ones. This builds a strong foundation and ensures cumulative learning.

Targeted Feedback

Targeted feedback is essential for correcting mistakes and reinforcing learning. For example, if a student misreads a word, the teacher can point out the specific error and provide the correct strategy to fix it.

Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping

Phoneme-grapheme mapping is a technique where students learn to connect sounds (phonemes) with their written symbols (graphemes). This helps in both reading (decoding) and writing (spelling).

Decoding and Spelling Coordination

Coordinating decoding and spelling ensures that students see the connection between reading and writing. For instance, if they learn to decode the word "tap," they also practice spelling it.

Oral Reading Practice

Oral reading practice helps students improve fluency and comprehension. Reading aloud allows teachers to hear mistakes and provide immediate corrections.

Guided Practice

Guided practice involves students practicing new skills with teacher support. This can be done in small groups or one-on-one, ensuring that each student gets the help they need.

Tools and Resources for Teachers

Phonics Materials

High-quality phonics materials are essential for Structured Literacy. These materials should follow a clear sequence, starting with simple sounds and progressing to more complex patterns.

Decodable Books

Decodable books are a cornerstone of Structured Literacy. These books contain words that match the phonics skills students are learning, making them perfect for practice.

Professional Development

Professional development is crucial for teachers to stay updated on the best practices in Structured Literacy. Programs like Keys to Literacy offer training in explicit, systematic instruction.

Instructional Programs

Several instructional programs align with Structured Literacy principles. For example, Hello Phonics offers a structured routine for small-group reading instruction, focusing on phonics skills.

By implementing these strategies and utilizing these resources, teachers can create a classroom environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed in reading.

Next up, we'll address some frequently asked questions about Structured Literacy Instruction.

Frequently Asked Questions about Structured Literacy Instruction

What is the structured literacy approach to instruction?

Structured Literacy is a method of teaching reading that is systematic, explicit, and cumulative. It focuses on teaching phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, and comprehension in a direct and logical sequence. This approach is based on the science of how kids learn to read and is especially effective for students with reading challenges like dyslexia.

Is structured literacy the same as phonics?

While phonics is a crucial part of Structured Literacy, the two are not the same. Structured Literacy encompasses phonics, but also includes other critical components like phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. It’s a comprehensive approach that teaches students how to decode words and understand their meanings, ensuring they become proficient readers.

How does structured literacy help students with dyslexia?

Structured Literacy is particularly beneficial for students with dyslexia. It provides explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and decoding, which are areas where dyslexic students often struggle. By teaching these skills in a systematic and cumulative manner, students with dyslexia can improve their reading proficiency significantly. Research shows that this approach can drastically increase reading skills for all students, making it a powerful tool in the classroom.

Next, we'll dive into the conclusion and how Hello Decodables can support your journey in implementing Structured Literacy.

Conclusion

Structured Literacy is a game-changer in reading instruction. It's not just about teaching kids to read; it's about teaching them to read well. By focusing on explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction, we can help all students, especially those with dyslexia, become proficient readers.

Hello Decodables offers a powerful tool to support this approach. Our phonics-based decodable books are designed to align with the principles of Structured Literacy. These books provide ample opportunities for students to practice decoding and apply their phonics skills in engaging, meaningful ways.

The Science of Reading backs this approach. Research consistently shows that a systematic and explicit method of teaching reading is the most effective. By using decodable texts that reinforce phonics skills, we can help students build a strong foundation in reading.

Enhancing phonics success is at the core of what we do. With Hello Decodables, you can ensure that your students get the practice they need with texts that are both accessible and challenging. This not only improves their reading skills but also boosts their confidence and enjoyment of reading.

Ready to take the next step in your reading instruction journey? Explore our Guide to Decodable Books and find how Hello Decodables can make a difference in your classroom.

Let's open up reading for every child, one decodable book at a time.