Here’s a question of vital importance for your child’s future: Structured literacy vs. balanced literacy. You’ve heard of the the need to ground but go beyond phonics. We’ve chatted about building literacy skills. Today, we’re going to compare and contrast two approaches to teaching literacy: structured literacy vs. balanced literacy. So, grab your favorite boozy bubble tea flavor, and let’s dive in!
Structured literacy is an approach that focuses on teaching students the fundamental skills of reading, such as phonics, decoding, and spelling. The goal is to provide students with a strong foundation in the mechanics of reading, so they can become proficient readers. Structured literacy involves a systematic, sequential approach to teaching these skills, starting with the most basic and building up from there. This approach is often associated with traditional, teacher-led instruction.
On the other hand, balanced literacy is an approach that aims to provide a more holistic view of literacy instruction. Balanced literacy recognizes that reading involves more than just decoding and spelling. It also involves comprehension, critical thinking, and a love of reading. This approach is often associated with student-centered instruction and emphasizes the importance of student choice in reading materials.
Structured literacy vs balanced literacy: where’s the beef?
So, what are the outcomes of these two approaches? Well, proponents of structured literacy argue that it leads to strong decoding skills and helps struggling readers catch up to their peers. They also argue that it provides a clear framework for instruction and ensures that all students receive a consistent, systematic approach to learning to read.
TL:DR: you actually get the skills to read with structured literacy versus being given guessing strategies with balanced literacy.
Around here, I’m all for the science of learning. I want facts and knowledge because that is the bedrock of quality education. You cannot reason your way through anything if you know nothing. Period. Full stop.
Even the trivium, the ne plus ultra of gold standard education begins with knowledge. You cannot get to logic and rhetoric without first having foundational knowledge. No brilliant oratory skills for you without first knowing things and how to do things! When it comes to structured literacy vs balanced literacy, I confidently say that we have failed students over the past two decades by moving to balanced literacy.
Proponents of balanced literacy argue that it leads to more engaged, enthusiastic readers. This is true because they are being asked to look at pictures and guess – you are going to be more engaged if you’re telling yourself all sorts of stories from what the pictures show other than what the words are actually saying.
I’ve been talking about literacy skills and the science of reading, so it should be no surprise that in the debate of structured literacy vs balanced literacy, my answer is going to be structured literacy hands-down.
Oh no! My school teaches balanced literacy
Here’s what you do: you supplement school at home and teach them the literacy skills they need. Here are some super easy examples:
- Sounding out signs on the roads or public transportation
- Matching letters (beginning, middle, or end) to items in the house
- Scavenger hunt of items that map to multi-letter phonograms (for “ir” – bird, girl, shirt, etc.)
- Play basketball – every time a word on a slip is read correctly, crumple it up and take a shot
- Offering tv shows or apps with phonics (e.g. alphablocks)
- Teach phonics at home – don’t shy away from teaching your child to read; this comprehensive guide breaks down the jargon, sequence, and progression so that you teach your child to read the right way.
The surprising benefits of structured literacy you need to know
Here are some of the top reasons why parents should be encouraging structured literacy:
- Structured literacy breaks down language into manageable parts: Think of it like building a puzzle. With structured literacy, we start with the individual sounds that make up words, and gradually piece them together to form words, sentences, and eventually, full stories! This step-by-step approach helps children understand how language works and build a strong foundation for reading.
- Structured literacy is evidence-based: Structured literacy is based on years of research into how children learn to read. It’s been shown to be effective for all kinds of learners, including those with dyslexia and other learning differences. By using proven methods, we can help ensure that all kids have a fair shot at success.
- Structured literacy is multisensory: Learning is more fun when it involves multiple senses! Structured literacy uses a variety of activities and techniques, like tracing letters in sand or tapping out syllables, to engage children’s visual, auditory, and tactile senses. This can help keep them interested and motivated to learn.
- Structured literacy builds confidence: There’s nothing like the feeling of mastering a new skill! With structured literacy, children build skills gradually and have lots of opportunities to practice and succeed. This can help boost their confidence and self-esteem, making them more willing to take on new challenges in the future.
- Structured literacy is adaptable: Every child is different, and structured literacy can be tailored to meet their unique needs. Whether a child is a visual learner, an auditory learner, or somewhere in between, structured literacy can be adapted to help them learn in the way that works best for them.
When it comes to structured literacy vs balanced literacy, the results are a no-brainer: structured literacy all the way! If you believe in the ethos of gifted education and want your child to succeed, give them the strongest literacy foundation you can, no matter how your school is teaching your child how to read.
