Backed by the latest research, Text Matters articles highlight important background knowledge along with practical ideas for improving reading instruction.
Backed by the latest research, Text Matters articles highlight important background knowledge along with practical ideas for improving reading instruction.
English orthography, described as quasi-regular, exhibits variability in the correspondences between letters and sounds, particularly with vowels. Proficiency in reading demands automaticity in connecting letters and sounds, necessitating systematic phonics instruction. However, the complexity of English orthography and its morphology means that becoming proficient in reading takes time and requires substantial exposure to text. Success inreading English requires a set for variability, where readers apply phonetic knowledge flexibly to decode unfamiliar words. While evidence supports instruction in letter-sound correspondences, questions persist regarding the extent of content coverage and the efficacy of decodable texts.
Learn how existing texts can be reorganized to give beginning readers opportunities to apply and extend their developing knowledge of letter–sound correspondences and of physical and social worlds.
