Science of Reading Overview

This page explores the meaning of the phrase “science of reading” to help provide an overview of how this approach supports student literacy learning and growth.

What is the Science of Reading?

For over 50 years, experts from different fields like education, psychology, and brain science have studied how people learn to read and understand language. More recently, schools have started using this research more intensely to improve the way reading is taught. Our middle school teachers are using these proven strategies to help all students grow as readers and writers—no matter where they are starting.

You may hear the term “Science of Reading”; this simply means teaching practices that are based on strong, reliable research about how the brain learns to read. This research shows that effective reading instruction includes five key areas:

🔊 phonemic awareness: Hearing and playing with individual sounds (phonemes) in words. Example: Hearing the “b” sound in “brother.”

🔡 phonics: Matching letters and patterns of letters with the sounds they make. Example: Knowing “sh” makes the /sh/ sound in “sharpen.”

🚀 fluency: Reading smoothly and with expression. Example: Reading aloud like you’re talking, not like a robot or sounding out each letter.

📚 vocabulary: Knowing the meaning of words. Example: Understanding what “disparage” means in a sentence.

💭 comprehension: Understanding and thinking about what you read. Example: Explaining what happened in a story or an article.

When teachers focus on all five of these areas in a clear and direct way, students are more likely to become successful readers.

Helpful Resources

National Center on Improving Literacy: Science of Reading
- Overview
- Succeeding in School: Essential Features of Literacy Development
- Activities to Build Your Child's Vocabulary at Home

Science of Reading Simplified Blog Series from SAVVAS Learning Company
- Science of Reading Simplified: Introduction
- The Science of Reading: Clarifying Misconceptions
VLP Family News: What is Science-Based Reading Research?

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