Literacy and the ‘Science of Reading’

If you’ve been following education news lately, you may have heard the phrase “the Science of Reading.” Across the country, schools are rethinking how children learn to read, and Kasson-Mantorville is part of this important shift. At its core, the Science of Reading has been built over decades and explains how the human brain learns to read. Unlike speaking, reading doesn’t come naturally. Children need explicit and systematic instruction in the building blocks of language; things like phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. I feel like we have come full circle to the 70s 
and 80s.
In the past, some reading programs encouraged students to look at pictures or guess words from context. While those strategies can sometimes help, research has shown that children become stronger, more confident readers when they are taught how to “crack the code” of language. That means understanding how sounds connect to letters, how to blend those sounds into words, and how to build meaning from what they read.
At K-M, you might see first graders practicing letter-sound patterns with hands-on activities and then applying those skills as they read real books. In the upper grades, students continue to grow as readers by expanding vocabulary, digging into complex texts, and discussing big ideas with their teachers and classmates. All of this is rooted in practices backed by solid evidence, giving every student the tools they need to succeed and our reading scores indicate it’s working!
Families play a powerful role in this work as well. Reading aloud at home, asking questions about stories, and encouraging children to explore books they enjoy all make a difference. Even a few minutes of a bedtime story strengthens comprehension, and shows kids that reading is both important and enjoyable.
The national movement toward the Science of Reading is more than just an education trend, it is a commitment to giving every child the best possible start in life. At Kasson-Mantorville, we are proud to be part of this work, and we are excited to watch our students grow into confident, capable readers who are ready for the future. If you have any specific questions you can reach out to our Director of Teaching and Learning, our principals or myself.