Approximate time to complete: 45 minutes 

Download the Course Companion document before starting this course. You can use the Companion Document to take notes on your learning, address reflection prompts, and as an easy way to retrieve course resources.  

Note: 

This overview of the science of reading does not meet the requirements for professional development in the science of reading under state law. 

Learning Objectives: 

Participants in this course will be able to:

  • Identify and explain the components of the Science of Reading
  • Examine and improve their current understanding of effective approaches to literacy instruction 

Consider This Scenario

Connection Point

In your Course Companion Document, consider these questions:  

  • Can you relate to this scenario? In what ways are your challenges in literacy instruction similar or different? 

Mr. Feeny has been teaching for several years and feels that he has a good understanding of how to teach children to read. He has a few tried and true techniques that he picked up in his teacher education classes, from colleagues and through professional learning opportunities. He has even drawn on some of the approaches he remembers from his teachers when he was a student. Recently, he took some time to review his students’ reading proficiency data from the past few years. He noticed that between 40-50% of his students were not proficient each year. This did not change even when his district did a major curriculum overhaul. Mr. Feeny knows that more students should be able to learn to read effectively but does not have a good sense of why he has struggles to help them.  

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What is the Science of Reading with Carolyn Turner

In this video, Ohio Literacy Lead Carolyn Turner describes the Science of Reading and how it can shape approaches to reading instruction. There is a place in your Course Companion to take notes. 

Knowledge Check

Take the quiz below to test your knowledge. Click the square button to expand the quiz. 

Resources

Read the Article “What is the Science of Reading” by Dr. Timothy Shanahan on Reading Rockets.   

 In your Course Companion, answer the following question:  

Identify one or two ideas from the article that either affirmed or challenged your thinking about the Science of Reading. Why?  

Course Reflection

In your course Companion, answer the following questions.

  • How would you explain the Science of Reading to a colleague in your own words? How would you explain it to a caregiver?  
  • Consider the core components of how to teach discussed in the video (explicit, systematic and sequential):
    • How are you already practicing these approaches in your classroom?   
    • Identify two or three small steps you can take to make your instruction more explicit, systematic and sequential.  

To Learn More

The following resources can help you learn more about the science of reading: 

Feedback: 

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Last Modified: 1/18/2024 10:58:56 AM