6/19/2024

Three Reasons All Teachers Need to Teach Reading

Approximately 85% of the public school curriculum is delivered via text. But some students are still missing foundational reading skills as they move on to more complex texts in middle and high school.

The transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn" is critical, as it affects students’ ability to comprehend and analyze advanced concepts across all subjects from science to social studies. Without strong reading skills, students are at a significant disadvantage that potentially widens the achievement gap and limits their future opportunities. 

Literacy instruction in middle and high school provides a solution. While this is often implemented through pull-out intervention methods, there are more integrated options that provide longer-term student support. 

Literacy at the Secondary Level

Secondary school administrators recognize that literacy instruction extends beyond elementary school. While elementary teachers are well-versed in the science of reading and already incorporate reading instruction into their daily routines, the responsibility of fostering literacy does not end there.

Literacy encompasses both reading and writing, which are critical for students to analyze, synthesize, and communicate complex ideas in upper grades. This dual focus on reading and writing is essential to prepare students for the academic challenges of secondary education and beyond.

Data from the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) revealed that 69% of eighth grade students are non-proficient readers, underscoring the urgent need for continued literacy education at the secondary level. This statistic highlights the critical role secondary educators play in advancing students' reading skills while ensuring that students can comprehend and engage with more complex texts across all subjects. 

To move the needle on adolescent literacy and improve student college and career readiness, literacy professional development and support is needed for all teachers, not just those in the English/language arts departments.

When teachers in content areas other than language arts are trained how to integrate explicit literacy instruction into their lessons, students gain the skills they need to understand complex topics. Renee Hesson, supervisor of instruction for all secondary ELA and reading interventions for Caroline County Public Schools in Maryland, found her solution in Lexia Aspire® Professional Learning. Hesson said, “With Aspire, teachers have the knowledge and the resources they need to teach kids not only to learn to read but read to learn.”

Here are three reasons why teachers in all content areas should be teaching literacy:

1. Students need to understand the academic language for specific content areas. Words can differ according to their context. For example, “variable” in algebra and “force” in physics have different meanings than they would in English language arts. Additionally, students may not encounter words such as “equilateral” or “scalene” outside of geometry class. For students reading below grade level, explicit instruction that helps them understand the meaning of words in appropriate contexts can significantly aid comprehension. With the proper training, content-area teachers can easily deliver explicit instruction that ensures all students recognize and understand academic language.
2. Writing about a subject can help students make better sense of the concepts they’re learning. Writing can help students organize their thoughts and improve their retention of the subject matter, and integrating both formal and informal writing activities into coursework can further improve retention. However, if students are devoting the majority of their cognitive resources to putting sentences together, they won’t have much left for understanding and retaining information. Content-area teachers who understand literacy learning can monitor and support students’ literacy progress, even tailoring writing assignments so students can reap the aforementioned benefits.
3. Literacy training will improve teachers' confidence and can boost retention. Teachers who have received professional learning opportunities in literacy education gain a deeper understanding of how students process written content, which can aid their curriculum development and delivery. Additionally, teachers will be better equipped to deliver individualized instruction because they’ll be able to recognize when literacy issues are contributing to students’ struggles and take appropriate action. When teachers see the positive impact of their efforts, this will boost their confidence and encourage them to remain in the classroom. High-quality professional learning based on the science of reading can help teachers close opportunity gaps and get students back on track. Professional learning should be paired with evidence-based literacy interventions that comprehensively meet students’ needs for maximum effectiveness. In addition, self-paced professional development options help ensure teachers can fit professional learning into their busy schedules without additional stress.

Professional Literacy Training for All Teachers

Aspire is grounded in the science of reading and specifically designed to help educators teach literacy skills across all content areas in grades 4–8. The solution enables educators to quickly build the depth of knowledge they need to support students who have not yet fully mastered the foundational reading skills required to comprehend and articulate ideas in various subjects.

The 40-hour Aspire program is self-paced, so educators can receive the support and skill development they need on their schedule. After a few prerequisite courses, educators can choose between three domains:

• Word Recognition
• Language Comprehension
• Reading Comprehension and Writing

This flexibility is useful because it allows educators to tailor their learning and focus on the specific areas where they or their students need the most support. In addition, it ensures that teachers are not spending time on content they may already be familiar with, making the learning process more efficient. By engaging with the most relevant content, educators can apply new skills and strategies more effectively in their classrooms.

Katie Leonard, acting assistant superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Connecticut's Hartford Public Schools, had this to say about the program:

“I love that Aspire is based on the science of reading and is specifically designed for educators working with adolescent students. The training has helped my educators weave in literacy skills in their classrooms and equipped them with the right skills to fill in the learning gaps that students had.”

Aspire also supports diverse learning approaches by providing educators with full courses dedicated to students with specific needs, such as developmental language disorder (DLD) and dyslexia, while also offering strategies for working with Emergent Bilingual students and multi-dialectical speakers.

Optimize Supplemental and Intervention Programs

Investing in literacy programs and professional learning is the best strategy school leaders can employ to prepare secondary students for college and career readiness. Strong literacy skills are fundamental for academic success across all subjects—and by focusing on comprehensive literacy development, students can better analyze, synthesize, and communicate complex ideas. This approach not only ensures student success but also sets up educators for success by equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to support their students effectively.

School leaders should feel confident in their decision to use Lexia® PowerUp Literacy®, an engaging and age-appropriate literacy program that aligns with the science of reading. To further enhance their efforts, they should consider adding Aspire, which provides professional learning grounded in the science of reading. Supplemental and intervention programs like PowerUp complement the instructional knowledge educators will gain from Aspire, creating a cohesive and effective literacy strategy.

School leaders should regularly:

• Evaluate current programs by assessing the effectiveness of existing programs and ensuring they align with the science of reading
• Implement professional learning by providing teachers with training through programs like Aspire to enhance their literacy instruction skills
• Integrate literacy across subjects by encouraging all teachers to incorporate literacy instruction into their lessons
• Monitor and adjust by regularly tracking student progress and modifying instructional strategies as needed
• Leverage resources such as evidence-based programs like PowerUp to support struggling readers and reinforce literacy skills

Giving teachers the knowledge and resources required to integrate literacy learning across all content areas sets both teachers and students on the path to success. By investing in professional development and evidence-based literacy programs, school leaders can ensure their students are well-prepared for the academic challenges ahead.

Explore how Aspire and PowerUp can elevate your school's literacy strategy and empower your educators with the tools they need to succeed, driving student achievement and fostering a brighter future for all.