Let’s talk about some ways that you can supplement your curriculum with some Science of Reading structures.

As teachers, we constantly try to provide our students with the best possible foundation for learning. While canned curricula, or programs that we are tasked with “using with fidelity,” offer a structured approach to instruction, they often lack the flexibility and depth needed to address the diverse needs of our classrooms.

Enter the science of reading—a HUGE body of research that delves into the cognitive processes behind how we learn to read. By supplementing our standard curricula with evidence-based strategies from the science of reading, we can enrich our teaching practices, enhance student engagement, and significantly improve literacy outcomes.

Here are five structures that you can put into place with ANY curricula to ensure that you are constantly spirally back to SoR in secondary classrooms.

1. Don’t eliminate grammar!

Grammar plays a pivotal role in SoR research, particularly when it comes to learning syntax and deciphering complex sentences. In this context, grammar is not merely about rules and conventions; it is the foundation that enables students to understand how words and phrases are organized to create meaning. Mastery of grammar allows students to decode sentences accurately, recognize the relationships between different parts of a sentence, and grasp the nuances of our stupidly complex language. This understanding is crucial for reading comprehension, as it helps students navigate complex sentence structures and derive meaning from texts that are syntactically intricate. Can you imagine if a student tried to read that last sentence? Without grammar instruction — both in context and out — they would have NO IDEA.

Research in the science of reading emphasizes that a strong grasp of grammar enhances students’ ability to decode and interpret written language effectively. When students understand grammatical concepts, such as subject-verb agreement, tense, and clause structure, they are better equipped to identify the main ideas and supporting details in a text. This proficiency in grammar also aids in recognizing punctuation cues, which further clarifies meaning and improves fluency. Full Stop.

In essence, grammar serves as the scaffolding for reading comprehension, enabling students to build on their foundational decoding skills and progress to more advanced levels of literacy. But so often, it is the first thing that gets thrown out when we run out of time. SMH.

So how do we continue to make it a priority when we feel like we have to (or we are told that we have to) get through so many of the texts in our canned curriculum. Well, it’s tough. My best advice is to find a way to teach grammar concepts WITH the texts. But I can’t make those suggestions without seeing your texts. Sooooooo try this daily bellringer curriculum from my friend Sam @ChompingattheLit. It has a little bit of everything and this five minutes of repeated spiraling will go so far!

And before you ever start acknowledging grammar, create some buy in from students. Otherwise, it will go in one ear and out the other… at least it has in my experience.

2. Constantly point out the structure:

Highlighting the text structure of what you are reading with your students is crucial in reading instruction. Understanding text structure—such as identifying narrative and expository elements, or argumentative layouts—helps students anticipate and then comprehend the organization of information within a text. This awareness helps them to follow the logical flow of ideas, discern key points, and retain important details. By explicitly teaching students to recognize and analyze different text structures, teachers help to enhance their ability to decode and interpret complex material. This skill is particularly valuable in aiding comprehension, as it provides students with a mental framework for organizing and synthesizing information, ultimately leading to improved reading proficiency and academic success.

Explicit instruction in the text structures is obviously necessary. BUT constantly pointing out the text structure, the transitions and the things that we (readers) can expect from those things is SO HELPFUL as students navigate the increasingly more complex texts that they see as they go through our secondary classrooms.

3. INTEGRATE Writing Instruction.

How many of you teach a reading unit and then do a writing piece at the end? The writing usually takes a couple of weeks when you’re not reading at all anymore… right? (Me… I’ve done that!)

Integrating your writing instruction WITH the instruction that you do related to reading is a powerful approach supported by the science of reading research. This integration reinforces the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing, where skills in one area enhance skills in the other. When students engage in writing activities related to the reading they have done, they practice organizing their thoughts, using correct grammar and syntax, and selecting appropriate vocabulary—all of which are essential for reading comprehension.

Writing also allows students to apply their understanding of text structures and conventions in a practical context. This dual focus on reading and writing fosters a deeper understanding of language, as students not only decode and interpret texts but also construct and communicate their ideas effectively. By weaving writing instruction into reading lessons, educators can create a more holistic literacy program that supports the development of proficient, confident readers and writers.

So what that means is that writing shouldn’t be relegated to once or twice a grading period. It really shouldn’t be a stand alone unit, separate from the reading. It should be done concurrently to the reading. Use the text that you read as mentor texts! Or better yet, use something like this dialectical journal from my friend Tollie.

4. Find a Vocabulary Program that works for you.

This one should come as no surprise to you. You know how I feel about vocabulary. I’m not going to try to sell you my programs. Just find one that works for you.

Learning new vocabulary is a critical component of the science of reading, as it directly impacts reading comprehension and overall literacy development. Research shows that a robust vocabulary enables students to make sense of the texts they read, as it enhances their ability to understand context, infer meaning, and grasp more complex concepts. Explicit vocabulary instruction, where students are taught new words in context and given multiple opportunities to use and revisit these words, helps solidify their understanding and retention.

If you need some specific recommendations, I have multiple posts about the importance of vocabulary instruction. =)

But PLEASE DO NOT just teach a handful of words every few weeks (or [gulp] months). No no no no no no. Don’t do that!

5. Get students speaking and listening.

Finally, speaking and listening are foundational skills that significantly influence reading comprehension. They are things that kind of fall off in middle school though. We are afraid to have students read out loud because we don’t want to damage their social and emotional well-being.

Oral language skills develop early though, and serve as the basis for literacy, enabling students to process and understand spoken language, which in turn supports their ability to decode and comprehend written text. Even as students age and mature, engaging them in rich conversations, listening to stories, and participating in discussions help students build their vocabulary, understand complex sentence structures, and develop inferential thinking. These skills are directly transferable to reading, where the ability to understand and analyze spoken language aids in making sense of written words and passages.

By continuing to foster strong speaking and listening abilities, educators can enhance students’ reading comprehension, as these skills provide the necessary framework for interpreting and engaging with text. Integrating oral language activities into reading instruction ensures a more comprehensive literacy approach, ultimately leading to more proficient and confident readers. Don’t know where to start? Try these sentence starters from Pagecraft ELA.

But How!?!?!

So now you’re asking, how do I do all of this? Well, it’s tough. My biggest piece of advice is to eliminate the things that don’t directly correlate to the above five recommendations. These are the most important things when it comes to reading comprehension. BUT when that isn’t possible, supplement. This is a team effort.

I am going to have to stop now because this post became a lot longer than I wanted it to be but there will be time for more. So what questions do you have about these five recommendations?