Notes from Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom
Shift 3: A Common Practice to Reconsider
Misunderstanding 4: If you have a strong scope and sequence and solid instructional routines, you have systematic phonics instruction.
Reading Exposure vs. Reading Mastery
Following a strong scope and sequence is only part of the (learning to read) battle.
You should be incorporating thoughtful practice, assessment, and review into your phonics instructions to help children master phonics.
Exposure to a set of phonics skills for the indicated time period (let’s say one week) may not be sufficient for mastery of those skills…
Most children will need more time than that…
Systematic phonics instruction requires scope, sequence, and instructional routines —plus an intentional plan for ongoing practice, assessment, and reteaching.
Wiley Blevins:
When you adopt a “mastery focus,” it changes the way you teach, write lessons, and assess a skill. Once a skill is introduced, you are “in it for the long haul” and don’t give up until all your students can successfully apply the skill to authentic reading and writing experiences weeks or months after the initial introduction.
