Shifting the balance: 6 ways to bring the science of reading into the balanced literacy classroom

Introduction : Embracing Science and Balance

Shift 1 Rethinking How Reading Comprehension Begins

Shift 2 Recommitting to Phonemic Awareness Instruction

Shift 3 Reimagining the Way We Teach Phonics

Shift 4 Revising High-Frequency Word Instruction

Shift 5 Reinventing the Ways We Use MSV (3 Cueing Systems)

Shift 6 A Reconsidering Texts for Beginning Readers

Clearing Up Some Confusion

Misunderstanding 1 Decodable texts are loaded with problems

Misunderstanding 2 Predictable texts make learning to read easier

Misunderstanding 3 Using meaning as the go-to source of information will teach children to comprehend

Misunderstanding 4 As long as kids are spending time with books every day they will become better readers

A Short Summary of the Science

Recommendations for Making the Shift