Reading and writing are complementary skills; you read text that’s written, and you create text to be read. Both skills need to be explicitly taught and rigorously practiced since the human brain isn’t hard-wired for either one [see our blog post here]. We’ve talked on this blog about many different approaches to reading instruction. Now, … Continue reading “Effective Writing Instruction”
Tag: oral language
The Science of Reading – Part 2: Vocabulary and Comprehension
[Editor’s note: This is the second part of our five-part series on the best practices of learning to read and learning to read better.] To read Part 1, “Unlocking Language,” click here. Phonics, no matter how effective, can’t be taught in a vacuum. Word knowledge (vocabulary) is another essential part of building language expression in … Continue reading “The Science of Reading – Part 2: Vocabulary and Comprehension”
The Science of Reading – Part 1: Unlocking Language
[Editor’s note: This is the first part of our five-part series on the best practices of learning to read and learning to read better.] There’s a long-standing debate about how best to teach children to read, which has led to what is colloquially known as the “reading wars.” On one side of the battle are … Continue reading “The Science of Reading – Part 1: Unlocking Language”
The History of Writing and Reading – Part 1: The Origins of Writing
[Editor’s note: This is the first of an ongoing series that examines the rise of writing – and therefore reading – around the world. We will be looking at the major developments and forces that shaped the written languages we use today.] Today, we take reading and writing for granted – we look at the … Continue reading “The History of Writing and Reading – Part 1: The Origins of Writing”
Humans Hard-Wired for Speech but not for Reading and Writing
Humans communicate naturally by speech – that is to say, without any special training besides hearing individuals speak to each other. The reason is the structure of our brains. Researchers have shown that there are two specific centers in the human brain that oversee and control language acquisition; both are in the brain’s left hemisphere. … Continue reading “Humans Hard-Wired for Speech but not for Reading and Writing”