The Science of Reading

The Science of Reading: What Every Parent Should Know

Reading is one of the most important skills your child will learn. Unlike speaking, which develops naturally, reading requires deliberate, structured teaching. The Science of Reading (SoR) is a robust body of research that explains how the brain learns to read and guides which instructional practices work best—particularly for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges.

What Is the Science of Reading?

The Science of Reading isn’t a curriculum—it’s a research foundation built from decades of studies in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and education. It's a body of research that explains how the brain learns how to read. The Science of Reading is NOT how you teach reading. Those strategies are called pedagogy.

The “Big Five” Components of Reading Instruction

1. Phonemic Awareness – Recognizing and manipulating individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. This is a subset of auditory processing and requires efficient processing in the thalamus and temporal lobes.

2. Phonics – Teaching the relationships between sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes). This is also called a "paired association" and requires activity from multiple areas of the brain to pair the phonological system with the visual system.

3. Fluency – Reading accurately, quickly, and with expression.

   
   

   Here is a benchmark table based on commonly referenced norms (Hasbrouck & Tindal, 2017):

   
   

   Oral Reading Fluency Benchmarks (Words Per Minute)

Grade	Beginning of Year	Middle of Year	End of Year
1st Grade	0–20 WPM	20–50 WPM	50–80 WPM
2nd Grade	50–70 WPM	70–100 WPM	90–120 WPM
3rd Grade	80–100 WPM	100–120 WPM	110–140 WPM

Key Notes

• These numbers apply to grade-level text.

• Students should read with 95%+ accuracy and good comprehension.

• Wide variations are normal, but progress should be steady across the year.

4. Vocabulary – The breadth of words a child understands, expanded through direct instruction and exposure.

5. Comprehension – The ultimate goal: making meaning of written text.

   
   

These five pillars were confirmed by the National Reading Panel’s influential review—and reaffirmed by later neuroscience research showing how reading instruction strengthens brain connections.

Why It Matters for Children with Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a neurological difference that impacts phonemic awareness and decoding skills. Methods like whole-language or three-cueing (guessing based on pictures/context) don’t meet these learners' needs. The Science of Reading supports structured literacy—an approach that is diagnostic, prescriptive, explicit, systematic, cumulative, and multisensory,—which research shows is especially effective for dyslexic learners.

What Parents Can Do: A Handy Checklist

Use this checklist to guide discussions with your child’s teacher and support literacy development at home:

Checklist Item	Why It Matters
1. Are all five components included in instruction?	Ensures balanced, evidence-based learning.
2. Is instruction explicit and systematic?	Supports students who struggle with word recognition.
3. Are student progress and difficulties monitored closely? Using what tools?	Helps prevent learning gaps from widening.
4. Are multisensory methods used (e.g., sight, sound, touch)?	Benefits learners with dyslexia and enhances retention.
5. Does instruction build cumulatively on earlier skills?	Prevents frustration by ensuring mastery of each step.
6. Is fluency practiced through guided oral reading and feedback? Is fluency practiced at both the independent and instructional levels?	Improves reading speed and understanding.
7. Is vocabulary expanded both in context and through explicit teaching?	Builds comprehension and language skills.
8. Are comprehension strategies (summarizing, questioning, visualizing) taught?	Teaches deeper understanding beyond decoding.
9. Are alternative supports (like audiobooks) available?	Provides access for those who struggle with print.
10. Do you have access to parent advocacy resources?	Empowers you to partner effectively with educators.

Trusted Resources for Parents

Here are some reliable organizations offering guidance, tools, and support:

• International Dyslexia Association (IDA) – Offers advocacy resources, the "Parent’s Guide to Effective Instruction" fact sheet, and the Dyslexia Handbook: What Every Family Should Know.(International Dyslexia Association)

• Reading Rockets – A public media literacy initiative offering guides like “Science of Reading: Defining Guide” and Reading 101 for families.(Reading Rockets)

• The Science of Reading Parent Resources https://parentpowered.com/science-of-reading/

• Institute for Multi-Sensory Education, resources for parents. https://imse.com/support/parents/