Closing the Reading Gap

1. Reading is a complex skill that transforms lives and societies

Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.

Reading's transformative power. Throughout history, reading has been a catalyst for personal and societal change. From ancient Sumerian clay tablets to modern digital screens, the ability to decode written language has opened doors to knowledge, imagination, and opportunity. Reading is not just a skill, but a gateway to:

• Personal growth and empowerment
• Access to information and education
• Cultural understanding and empathy
• Critical thinking and decision-making abilities
• Economic opportunities and social mobility

Historical significance. The development of reading has paralleled human progress:

• 3400-3300 BCE: Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs emerge
• 1450 CE: Gutenberg's printing press revolutionizes access to books
• 19th-20th centuries: Mass literacy movements transform societies
• 21st century: Digital revolution challenges and expands reading practices

2. The science of reading reveals its complexity and importance

Reading is no passive, static act of merely receiving information. What the author conveys in the text matters, but just as crucial to what is read and understood relates to what the reader brings to the text.

Cognitive processes. Reading engages multiple brain regions and cognitive functions simultaneously:

• Visual processing of symbols
• Phonological awareness and decoding
• Word recognition and vocabulary retrieval
• Syntactic parsing and semantic integration
• Working memory and attention

Eye movements. Research on eye movements during reading reveals:

• Saccades: Quick jumpy movements (20-40 milliseconds)
• Fixations: Brief pauses on individual words (200-250 milliseconds)
• Regressions: Backward movements to reread or clarify

Understanding these processes helps teachers tailor instruction and interventions to support struggling readers and enhance the skills of all students.

3. Phonics instruction is crucial for early reading development

Phonics is the method of instruction that explicitly teaches pupils to map sounds (phonemes) on to their corresponding letters (graphemes).

Systematic approach. Effective phonics instruction:

• Teaches the 44 phonemes of the English language systematically
• Focuses on blending sounds to read words and segmenting words into sounds for spelling
• Progresses from simple to complex sound-letter relationships

Benefits and debates. While phonics instruction has been controversial, research supports its effectiveness:

• Helps children crack the alphabetic code
• Particularly crucial for struggling readers
• Should be combined with other literacy components (vocabulary, comprehension, fluency)

Teachers need to be well-trained in phonics instruction to provide effective support, especially in the early years of schooling.

4. Reading fluency goes beyond speed to encompass expression and comprehension

We are better off with concentrating on the relatively slow, deliberate process of reading for meaning and to understand the subtle difference between reading speedily and reading with fluency.

Multidimensional fluency. True reading fluency involves:

• Accuracy: Correctly identifying words
• Rate: Reading at an appropriate pace
• Prosody: Using appropriate expression and phrasing
• Comprehension: Understanding what is being read

Developing fluency. Strategies to improve fluency include:

• Repeated reading of texts
• Modeling fluent reading
• Paired reading and choral reading
• Focus on phrasing and punctuation

Fluency acts as a bridge between word recognition and comprehension, allowing readers to focus on meaning rather than decoding.

5. Comprehension requires active engagement and background knowledge

To grasp the words on a page we have to know a lot of information that isn't set down on a page.

Mental model building. Effective comprehension involves:

• Activating prior knowledge
• Making inferences and connections
• Monitoring understanding
• Visualizing and organizing information

Background knowledge. The importance of background knowledge in comprehension:

• Helps readers fill gaps in texts
• Allows for deeper understanding and analysis
• Varies across subjects and topics, affecting comprehension

Strategies for enhancing comprehension:

• Teaching explicit comprehension strategies (e.g., questioning, summarizing)
• Building vocabulary and background knowledge across subjects
• Encouraging active reading through note-taking and discussion
• Using graphic organizers to visualize relationships between ideas

6. Different subjects demand unique reading approaches and strategies

By paying attention to the specialised ways of reading, knowing and doing, in each subject discipline, we can recognise that there are both general reading skills and subject-specialist strategies that our pupils need to develop.

Disciplinary literacy. Each subject area has its own:

• Specialized vocabulary and terminology
• Text structures and genres
• Reading strategies and approaches

Examples of subject-specific reading:

• History: Sourcing, contextualizing, and corroborating documents
• Science: Interpreting diagrams, graphs, and technical language
• Mathematics: Decoding symbols and understanding abstract concepts
• Literature: Analyzing literary devices and making interpretations

Teachers across all subjects should be trained in disciplinary literacy to support students in navigating subject-specific texts effectively.

7. Addressing reading barriers requires targeted interventions and support

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.

Common reading barriers:

• Dyslexia: Difficulty with phonological processing and word recognition
• Poor comprehenders: Struggle with understanding despite adequate decoding
• Limited vocabulary and background knowledge
• Motivational issues and negative attitudes towards reading

Interventions and support:

• Early identification and assessment of reading difficulties
• Targeted phonics instruction for dyslexic readers
• Explicit teaching of comprehension strategies
• Building vocabulary and background knowledge
• Addressing motivational issues through engaging texts and supportive environments

A "simple view of reading" model can help teachers diagnose specific reading issues and tailor interventions accordingly.

8. Creating a reading culture is essential for fostering lifelong readers

Reading habitually and seeing reading as a pleasurable, fulfilling and motivating activity matters.

Elements of a reading culture:

• Access to diverse, high-quality texts
• Dedicated time for reading in school
• Teacher modeling of reading habits and enthusiasm
• Parental involvement and support
• Celebration of reading achievements

Strategies for building a reading culture:

• Investing in school libraries and classroom book collections
• Implementing regular reading times (e.g., DEAR - Drop Everything And Read)
• Hosting author visits and book events
• Connecting reading to students' interests and experiences
• Promoting reading across all subjects, not just in language arts

By fostering a love of reading, schools can help students develop a lifelong habit that will continue to benefit them academically, professionally, and personally.

Last updated: September 29, 2024