As the science of reading gains traction, patrons are starting to looking for more phonics-based books. Leveled readers are great, but do not always focus on developing skills in a particular sequence. To develop those skills, patrons are better served by decodable books. Decodable books are typically sold in sets and follow a specific sequence. This allows the reader to build on previous skills. Because these sets are usually sold by education companies, patrons may not know where to find them. It’s a perfect opportunity for libraries to step in and increase access to these titles.
Tag: Science of Reading
4 At-Home Summer Literacy Strategies
As summer approaches, families may be searching for ways to support literacy development at home. Last month, I wrote about how to speak with caregivers about literacy. In that post, I mentioned the importance of empowering families by offering a few practical suggestions that are easy to infuse into daily routines. Below are 4 simple strategies you can share that align with key literacy concepts. These strategies all follow Science of Reading principles. In addition to sharing with families, you can also use these strategies into your own programming to build literacy skills with patrons!
How to Speak with Caregivers about Literacy
As librarians, reading and literacy are concepts that have been ingrained into our practice. Growing up, many of us most likely enjoyed reading or being around books. However, that is not the case for all who walk through our doors. Many people have negative memories about learning to read, didn’t like reading, or didn’t have it as a routine in their home. When initiating conversations about literacy with caregivers, it’s important to know how to speak with respect on this topic so that we can empower and serve our patrons to the fullest extent. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts when talking with caregivers about how to support their child’s reading journey.
Upgrade Your Literacy Resources with a How to Read Website
The science of reading is one of the fastest growing topics in librarianship. At my library, patrons want to know more about the science of reading, and how they can use it to help their children learn to read. Over the years, we’ve tried to meet this in different ways. For example, we created a Science of Reading kit to help patrons access the tools they need. As patron demand continued to grow, we realized we needed a way to help many patrons at the same time. To that end, my library created a Help Your Child Learn to Read website so patrons could access library resources whenever they needed them.
Science of Reading and Public Libraries: The In-Between
When I first started learning about the Science of Reading, I was extremely overwhelmed. I was bombarded with articles about plummeting literacy rates and the utter fear that children cannot read. My heart ached for these kids who have been failed by inadequate literacy education practices. On top of this, they’re distracted by tablets, social media, and AI, with little direction on how to use these tools in a healthy way.
The Science of Reading: What Does it Really Mean?
Effective March 2021, the District of Columbia enacted Law 23-191 to address dyslexia and other reading difficulties. This required the Office of the Superintendent of Education to provide support to public schools in identifying and preventing reading difficulties in students. As a result of this law, all DC Public Schools were required to adopt high-quality reading curricula based in The Science of Reading. Now, Science of Reading is a hot topic both in the district and beyond. But what does it really mean? The (Recent) Past ALSC guest blogger Jocelyn Levin stated in her April 2024 post, “Reading can be simplified into Word Recognition + Language Comprehension.” This view of reading is often referred to as “The Simple View of Reading,” which is what the Science of Reading is based on. However, I would like to add, or rather multiply, on to Levin’s definition of the Simple View of Reading….
Unlocking Literacy: Developing a Science of Reading Kit for Your Library
Teaching a child to read is a rewarding, but difficult, task. When patrons ask me for help at the reference desk, the requests vary from patron to patron. Some patrons simply want to know where we keep our beginning readers. Other patrons want to know everything that we have: books for parents, workbooks for kids, beginning readers, and any other resources I can give them. With this in mind, my library created a circulating Science of Reading Kit that our patrons can check out to help their child learn to read.
The Science of Reading and the Power of Talking
Building a Strong Foundation for Early Literacy You’re talking, I am talking, they are talking…everyone is talking! What better way to end this series on the implications of The Science of Reading on early literacy development? Talking is one of our foundational skills within early literacy development. Early literacy is the cornerstone of educational development, with significant implications for a child’s academic success and lifelong learning. The foundations of reading and literacy skills begin long before children enter formal schooling. A critical component in this process is talking in early childhood. Before we begin to outline ways to incorporate talking in early literacy strategies, let’s refresh ourselves on The Science of Reading.