The Science of Reading (SoR) is an interdisciplinary body of research from fields like cognitive psychology, neuroscience, education, and linguistics that focuses on how the brain learns to read. It provides evidence-based practices for reading instruction, especially for young or struggling readers, emphasizing the importance of phonics, comprehension, and early intervention. Here’s how the Science of Reading principles align with foundational reading instruction, and how tools like Raz-Kids can support this approach:
Key Foundations of the Science of Reading:
1. Phonemic Awareness
Definition: Phonemic awareness refers to the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. It is an oral skill and is the first step in learning to read.
Application in Raz-Kids: Early-level books in Raz-Kids emphasize simple phonemic patterns (like CVC – consonant-vowel-consonant words) to help students practice sound manipulation and recognition.
2. Phonics
Definition: Phonics involves connecting the sounds of spoken language to letters or groups of letters in written language (i.e., understanding that the letter "b" represents the /b/ sound).
Application in Raz-Kids: Leveled books focus on decoding strategies where students learn to connect sounds to letters and blend them into words. Raz-Kids encourages repeated exposure to phonics through listening, reading, and practice.
3. Fluency
Definition: Fluency is the ability to read text accurately, quickly, and with proper expression. It bridges word recognition and comprehension.
Application in Raz-Kids: The ability to listen to fluent readings and then practice reading aloud allows students to improve fluency. The recording feature helps teachers monitor student progress and provide feedback.
4. Vocabulary
Definition: Building vocabulary is crucial because students need to know the meaning of words to understand what they read. Vocabulary acquisition happens through direct instruction and exposure to new words in context.
Application in Raz-Kids: The variety of texts at different levels exposes students to new vocabulary in context, helping them understand and apply new words effectively. Quizzes also reinforce vocabulary learning.
5. Comprehension
Definition: Comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading—understanding and interpreting what is being read. It requires vocabulary knowledge, fluency, and background knowledge.
Application in Raz-Kids: Comprehension quizzes after each book assess understanding, and the texts provide opportunities for students to engage with the material deeply, building their comprehension skills through higher-order thinking questions.
6. Background Knowledge
Definition: The more background knowledge a student has on a topic, the easier it is for them to understand new reading material. Knowledge-building helps readers make connections and comprehend complex texts.
Application in Raz-Kids: Books in Raz-Kids cover a wide range of topics (science, history, fiction, etc.), providing students with background knowledge that supports their ability to comprehend more complex texts as they progress.
Structured Literacy and the Science of Reading
Science of Reading heavily promotes Structured Literacy, an approach that is explicit, systematic, and sequential in teaching essential literacy skills. The steps include:
Explicit Instruction: Direct teaching of skills like phonics and decoding (letter-sound relationships) through clear, systematic lessons.
Systematic Progression: Students are gradually introduced to more complex skills, moving from simple sounds and words to more complex texts.
Sequential Learning: Students build on previously learned material in a structured way, ensuring mastery before moving forward.
How Raz-Kids Supports the Science of Reading:
Phonics-Focused Reading Materials: Raz-Kids provides students with books that emphasize phonics, ensuring that young learners receive explicit and systematic phonics practice, which is critical for early reading success.
Engagement with Print and Audio: By combining reading with listening features, Raz-Kids engages multiple senses (visual and auditory), which aligns with the Science of Reading's focus on multisensory learning techniques.
Targeted Fluency Practice: Through read-aloud recordings and opportunities for students to record themselves reading, Raz-Kids promotes the development of reading fluency in line with research-based best practices.
Comprehension Assessments: Post-reading quizzes ensure that students are not just decoding words but also understanding them—an essential component of effective reading instruction according to the Science of Reading.
Differentiated Reading Levels: The leveled books (A-Z) in Raz-Kids provide a systematic approach to reading instruction that aligns with structured literacy principles, allowing students to progress at their own pace.
Core Takeaways of the Science of Reading:
Reading is not an innate skill; it is learned and requires explicit instruction.
Systematic, sequential instruction in phonics is essential for building the foundations of reading.
Early and consistent practice in fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension is key to becoming a proficient reader.
Engaging students with a variety of texts builds background knowledge, vocabulary, and higher-order thinking skills, all of which support comprehension.
In summary, the Science of Reading emphasizes a structured, evidence-based approach to literacy instruction, with a focus on phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Raz-Kids supports this framework by providing interactive, leveled reading materials and tools that promote the essential skills outlined in the Science of Reading, making it an excellent resource for early literacy development.
