Science of Reading

One of America’s most highly regarded experts on literacy, Louisa Moats puts forth a reasoned, thoughtful article about the science of reading in this special edition of the American Federation of Teachers publication in 2020. Several links also explore the topic.

All teacher preparation programs should show teachers-in-training how to skillfully use the curricula they are given. This is a prerequisite to ensuring that most children meet state academic standards. Think about it: If every teacher uses a school provided curriculum that is aligned with their state standards, the chances of meeting those standards is better than if teachers are reinventing the wheel by developing their own lessons.

FREE resources to determine if your child is having reading difficulties, and what you can do about it.

As many of you know, the Santa Barbara Unified School District has adopted two Science of Reading-based curricula: Wit & Wisdom and Foundations. These curricula cover grades K-6 and are designed to address the five core components of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency.

A critical part of making large scale changes to reading instructions is introducing teachers to research and new methods thorough professional learning, LETRS instructs teachers in what literacy skills need to be taught, why, and how to plan to teach them

Stone & Hirsch: Gaps between materials required by districts and those used in classrooms put the mission of improving student literacy at risk.

Award-winning investigative reporter Emily Hanford has produced a landmark series of broadcasts for American Public Media that reveals how balanced literacy got it so wrong—and why reading instruction grounded in science is so essential. Her influential work led to sweeping action in legislation to reform reading instruction across the country.

In the summer of 2024, the Santa Barbara County Office of Education took a step forward in local literacy leadership with an explanation about the Science of Reading to its board of trustees. Although the County Office is not involved in curriculum selection, its comprehensive presentation was a welcome addition to the discussion and provides districts throughout Santa Barbara County with clear research-based resources they can use to inform instruction and training.

This is the eye-opening conclusion of the report by the National Council on Teacher Quality that studied some 693 teacher training programs across the nation. Its conclusion is far too many of the college preparation programs leave would-be teachers unprepared to teach the Science of Reading

The author of the well-reviewed Reading at the Speed of Sight offers in-depth thought about various aspects of reading instruction, along with links to various additional presentations.

Despite ample resources and a reputation as one of California’s top districts, we were dramatically failing high-need students in education’s most fundamental subject: reading. For me, as a school board member, that was a tough pill to swallow.

For many years, advocates in Santa Barbara have urged administrators of Santa Barbara Unified to eliminate its balanced literacy instructional approach. The district established an “Early Literacy Task Force,” and invited educators and members of the community to discuss literacy in a series of meetings held over two years. Eventually the district announced it would adopt a new curriculum based on the Science of Reading. Over this time, many articles have appeared in the local press, including this informative report by Callie Fausey, the education reporter for the Independent. The California News Publishers Association recognized this in-depth article with the First Place Award in the category of Youth and Education.

We believe all children deserve to learn to read, and all teachers can learn to teach them.