Quick Start Guide
Free online literacy skill assessments and structured literacy instructional materials can support piloting evidence-based practices quickly and efficiently. Learning from implementation and results improves literacy and equity for ALL.
Get started on your Science of Reading journey today!
Step 1: Assess Foundational Reading Skills
Assess foundational reading skills (decoding or word recognition skills identified and illustrated in various Models of Reading) for all students who are not demonstrating grade-level reading expectations.
(1:27) Dr. Matt Burns explains various types of reading assessments, why leveling reading assessments are currently used, and what skills-based reading assessments should be used instead.
At least the following foundational reading skills should be assessed for screening to identify needs for instruction & intervention and progress monitoring to measure growth over time:
Kindergarten:
Alphabet Knowledge
Letter sound knowledge
Phonemic Awareness
Word Reading
1st Grade:
Alphabet Knowledge
Letter sound knowledge
Phonemic Awareness
Word Reading
Oral Reading Fluency
2nd-12th Grade:
Phonemic Awareness
Word Reading
Oral Reading Fluency
Example FREE Foundational Reading Skill Assessments
WI Dyslexia Roadmap Resources:
Step 2: Group Students by Phonics Skill
Group students for differentiated instruction by phonics skills aligned to the scope and sequence of your curriculum and instructional materials.
Example FREE Grouping Resources
Step 3: Use Structured Literacy Practices to Target Foundational Skills
Start with the easiest phonics skill and sequentially progress to more complex skills. Provide direct, explicit explanations for both reading and spelling. Use decodable text to practice the specific phonics skills.
(1:05) Linda Farrell and Michael Hunter of Readsters explain the usage of decodable vs leveled readers. Access the handout.
Example FREE Structured Literacy Instructional Resources
Reading Ready, Katharine Pace Miles, Ph.D, (Grades K-1)
West Virginia Phonics, Tools 4 Reading, (Grade K-12)
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Can be implemented in the suggested sequence, or individual lessons can be used to target accuracy and automaticity in discrete phonics skills.
(14:00) Kelly McCormick and Karen Donnelly provide an overview of West Virginia Phonics for K-2 Interventions.
(23:43) Intentional Literacy demonstrates a West Virginia Phonics lesson which can be used in 1:1, small group, and whole group settings.
Advanced Word Study: Accelerated Learning of Multisyllabic Word Reading and Morphology, Amber Hicks & Chelsea Kilgore, Mississippi Department of Education, (Grades 3-12)
Six weeks of explicit advanced phonics lessons, including speed drills and center activities to support adequate practice with each skill.
Model Lesson - (29:06) authors explain and demonstrate the resource.
Step 4: Measure Progress
Measure progress with decodable text weekly, assessing a minimum of Word Reading and Oral Reading Fluency.
(1:27) Dr. Matt Burns explains various types of reading assessments, why leveling reading assessments are currently used, and what skill-based reading assessments should be used instead.
Example FREE Foundational Reading Skill Assessments:
WI Dyslexia Roadmap Resources:
Step 5: Schedule Time to Reflect on Progress Monitoring Data
Schedule reflection time in 3 weeks and 6 weeks to review progress monitoring data and celebrate!
Consider having students graph their daily or weekly progress.
Growth in student learning could come faster than you imagine!