Exploring the Art and Science of Reading: Combining Personal and Research-based Strategies.

The Art and Science of Reading:

1. Almost all humans learn to speak naturally; reading and writing must be taught.

2. Literacy begins at birth. It is rooted in early social interactions and experiences, including regular oral language and print exposure. Strong roots tend to produce stronger readers.

3. All good readers are good decoders. Decoding should be taught until learners can accurately and independently read new words. Decoding depends on phonemic awareness: a learner's ability to identify individual speech sounds. Decoding is the on-ramp for word recognition.

4. Fluent readers can instantly and accurately recognize most words in a text. They can read with expression and at an appropriate rate for their age. Reading fluency requires comprehension AND it supports comprehension.

5. Comprehension — the goal of reading — draws on multiple skills and strengths, including a solid foundation of vocabulary and background knowledge.

6. One size does not fit all: use learner data to differentiate your instruction.

7. Direct, systematic instruction helps learners develop the skills they need to become strong readers. 

8. English Learners/Emergent Bilinguals often need extra support to bolster their oral language as they learn to read and write in a new language.

9. We should support learners who speak languages or dialects other than General American English at home by honoring their home language and expanding their opportunities to engage with General American English text.

10. To become good readers and writers, learners must integrate many skills built over time.

Adapted from 10 Maxims: The Research Support || What We’ve Learned So Far || About How Children Learn to Read || By Reid Lyon