{"id":239764,"date":"2023-04-23T16:22:56","date_gmt":"2023-04-23T16:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buoyantbloomer.com\/?p=239764"},"modified":"2023-07-19T17:33:17","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T17:33:17","slug":"structured-literacy-vs-balanced-literacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buoyantbloomer.com\/structured-literacy-vs-balanced-literacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Structured literacy vs. Balanced Literacy: Which One Ensures Your Child’s Success?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Here\u2019s a question of vital importance for your child\u2019s future: Structured literacy vs. balanced literacy. You\u2019ve heard of the the need to ground but go beyond phonics<\/a>. We\u2019ve chatted about building literacy skills.<\/a> 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Structured literacy vs balanced literacy: where\u2019s the beef?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TL:DR: you actually get the skills to read with structured literacy versus being given guessing strategies with balanced literacy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019re telling yourself all sorts of stories from what the pictures show other than what the words are actually saying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been talking about literacy skills and the science of reading<\/a>, 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh no! My school teaches balanced literacy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what you do: you supplement school at home<\/a> and teach them the literacy skills they need. Here are some super easy examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n