What is Structured Literacy?

Structured literacy is a term for a proven, evidence-based approach to delivering literacy instruction. A structured literacy approach benefits all learners and has these important components to ensure optimal outcomes:

EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION

Explicit instruction is teaching our students directly what we want them to learn. We cannot have them guessing, nor can we hint at or superficially expose students to information that we expect they will simply absorb. This can result in misinterpretation, confusion, knowledge gaps, and whole lot of wasted time.

SYSTEMATIC & CUMULATIVE INSTRUCTION

Systematic instruction means there is a system in place. We aren’t throwing darts to decide on which skill to focus and how. We assess, observe, evaluate, and make informed decisions about how students’ instructional needs will be met, and have a system for delivering instruction to them. Cumulative instruction reinforces that practice MUST be incorporated through committed review. In cumulative instruction, new instruction is built upon previous knowledgeStudents will have trouble acquiring and retaining new information if the proper building blocks are out of place.

DIAGNOSITIC & RESPONSIVE INSTRUCTION

Students’ progress is assessed at appropriate intervals to ensure instructional needs are met, and to further identify where students need continued support.