Many parents and teachers are concerned about children who struggle to read, often unsure how to help them. Despite their best efforts, some children face reading challenges that can be frustrating and disheartening. This situation is concerning, given the critical role early reading skills play in a child's overall academic success. Without a strong foundation in literacy, children may fall behind in other subjects, leading to a cycle of academic difficulties.

The Science of Reading offers a research-backed approach to addressing these challenges. By focusing on the systematic teaching of phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension, you can provide the tools they need to become proficient readers.

In this blog, we'll explore how applying foundational literacy skills, phonics, and the science of reading can significantly help children achieve literacy success.

Key Takeaways

• The Science of Reading is evidence-based: It combines research from cognitive psychology, linguistics, and neuroscience to support how children learn to read and write.

• Two main models in the Science of Reading: The Simple View of Reading focuses on the balance between decoding and language comprehension, while Scarborough’s Reading Rope shows how these skills interweave to form fluent reading.

• Phonemic and phonological awareness are crucial: These early literacy skills help children decode words and understand their meaning, which are essential for reading success.

• Phonemic awareness is a strong predictor of reading success: Children who can identify and manipulate sounds are better equipped to decode words and understand spelling patterns.

• Foundational literacy skills impact overall academic performance: Without these skills, children may struggle not only with reading but also in other subjects that rely on strong literacy.

What Is the Science of Reading?

The Science of Reading (SoR) is an interdisciplinary body of research that synthesises findings from cognitive psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, education, and related fields to understand how individuals learn to read and how reading instruction can be most effective. 

This extensive body of research has been developed over the past 5 decades and encompasses thousands of studies conducted across multiple languages and educational contexts.

How the Science of Reading Improves Children’s Reading Skills

The Science of Reading helps children by providing a structured, evidence-based framework for developing strong literacy skills. It integrates key components that work together to improve a child's reading ability, from phonics to comprehension. 

Below is a table that breaks down how each component of the Science of Reading contributes to helping children learn to read:

These components don't exist in isolation. Researchers have developed comprehensive models that show how these elements interact and build upon each other to create proficient readers.

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The Science of Reading: Key Models to Support Children’s Literacy Growth

Let’s explore the two key models that form the foundation of the Science of Reading. Understanding these models can guide parents and teachers in supporting children’s literacy growth, providing a clearer approach to teaching reading and addressing challenges.

1. The Simple View of Reading: Decoding and Linguistic Comprehension

The Simple View of Reading, proposed by Gough and Tunmer in 1986, highlights two key skills that determine how well children can read: Decoding and linguistic comprehension. These 2 components are equally important in helping children understand what they read.

• Decoding: This is the ability to break down written words into sounds, helping children read words accurately and fluently. The better a child can decode, the easier it becomes to read new words and sentences.

• Linguistic Comprehension: This refers to a child’s ability to understand and interpret the meaning of words, sentences, and larger passages. It involves vocabulary knowledge, sentence structure, and the ability to make inferences from the text.

In simpler terms, reading comprehension is the product of these two skills:

Decoding × Linguistic Comprehension = Reading Comprehension

If a child struggles with either decoding or language comprehension, it will affect their ability to fully understand what they are reading. For example, a child who has trouble decoding words might be able to read but not understand the content. Similarly, a child who has strong decoding skills but lacks vocabulary or understanding of sentence structure might read words but not grasp the meaning behind them.

2. Scarborough’s Reading Rope: Understanding Word Recognition and Language Comprehension

Scarborough’s Reading Rope is a visual framework that illustrates how various cognitive skills intertwine to develop skilled reading. Developed by Dr. Hollis Scarborough in 2001, this model highlights 2 main strands: Word Recognition and Language Comprehension. 

In Scarborough’s model, skilled reading is depicted as the intertwining of these strands, forming a cohesive rope. When both word recognition and language comprehension are well-developed, children can read fluently and understand texts deeply. However, if one strand is weaker, it can impede overall reading proficiency.

Both models emphasise word recognition as fundamental to reading success. At the heart of this skill lies a child's ability to hear, identify, and work with the smallest units of sound, a capability that begins long before formal reading instruction.

The Role of Phonemic and Phonological Awareness in the Science of Reading

The Science of Reading aligns closely with the objectives of the Australian Curriculum, Version 9.0, F-10: English, which emphasise the development of strong foundational literacy skills. Phonemic and phonological awareness form the basis of early reading development. 

These skills involve recognising and manipulating the sounds within spoken words, an ability that helps children connect sounds to letters when learning to read.

What is Phonemic Awareness?

Phonemic awareness is to identify and manipulate individual sounds known as phonemes in spoken words. Research indicates that phonemic awareness is one of the strongest predictors of early reading success. 

Children who can recognise and work with phonemes are better equipped to decode words, understand spelling patterns, and become proficient readers. This skill is important in alphabetic languages like English, where understanding the relationship between sounds and letters is essential for reading and writing.

Phonemic awareness encompasses several abilities:

• Phoneme Isolation: Recognising individual sounds in words (e.g., the first sound in "dog" is /d/).

• Phoneme Blending: Combining individual sounds to form words (e.g., /c/ /a/ /t/ → "cat").

• Phoneme Segmentation: Breaking down words into their constituent sounds (e.g., "bat" → /b/ /a/ /t/).

• Phoneme Addition, Deletion, and Substitution: Manipulating sounds within words (e.g., changing the /b/ in "bat" to /h/ to make "hat").

Educators can conduct various games to develop phonemic awareness through various activities like rhyming games, sound matching, clapping syllables, and sound manipulation.

Also Read: Phonics vs Phonemic Awareness: Key Differences Explained

What is Phonological Awareness?

Phonological awareness is the ability to recognise and manipulate the sound structures in spoken language. It encompasses a range of skills, from identifying individual sounds (phonemes) to recognising syllables.

This auditory skill is crucial for understanding the relationship between spoken and written language, forming the foundation for reading and spelling development.

Phonological awareness includes several levels of sound structure:

• Word Awareness: Recognising that sentences are made up of individual words.

• Syllable Awareness: Identifying and counting syllables in words.

• Onset-Rime Awareness: Recognising the initial consonant sound (onset) and the vowel and following consonants (rime) in syllables.

• Rhyme Awareness: Identifying words that have the same ending sound.

• Phonemic Awareness: Recognising and manipulating individual phonemes, the smallest units of sound in speech.

Note: Research has shown that difficulties in phonological awareness are often linked to reading challenges, including dyslexia.

Understanding these sound-based skills is one thing; teaching them effectively requires dedicated professionals who can translate research into classroom practice.

Role of Educators in Developing Foundational Literacy Skills

Educators play a critical role in helping children build foundational literacy skills, which are essential for reading and writing. Their responsibilities include:

1. Providing Explicit Instruction: Educators deliver structured lessons on foundational skills such as phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This method is backed by research showing it improves literacy outcomes.

2. Using Assessment Data: Through regular assessments, educators can track student progress and identify areas where students need more support.

3. Creating Literacy-Rich Environments: Teachers integrate print materials and literacy activities into daily lessons, giving students opportunities to engage with language in meaningful ways.

4. Collaborating with Families and Communities: Educators work with families and communities to support children’s literacy development, making learning a shared responsibility between home and school.

5. Engaging in Professional Development: Continuous training helps educators stay up-to-date with the latest literacy strategies and teaching methods.

Even the most skilled educators need reliable ways to measure whether their instruction is working. This is where systematic evaluation becomes essential to the literacy development process.

What Role Does Assessment Play in Reading Support?

Standardised assessments, like Australia's NAPLAN 2025, showed that over 68.2% of Queensland students achieved "Strong" or "Exceeding" proficiency in reading, though disparities remain in certain groups.

NAPLAN proficiency benchmarks outline developmental expectations, such as Year 3 readers being able to decode multisyllabic words, infer meaning, and identify key ideas in texts. These standards help educators and families identify when additional support might be needed.

Beyond standardised testing, ongoing assessments of oral reading fluency, phonemic awareness, and comprehension facilitate responsive teaching. Regular assessment helps adjust instruction based on the student’s progress, supporting the structured literacy approach.

For parents, assessments offer clear insights into a child's strengths and areas that need improvement, guiding targeted interventions to support their unique learning needs.

Despite clear evidence supporting these practices, schools and educators face hurdles when trying to shift from traditional methods to research-based instruction.

Common Challenges in Implementing Science of Reading Practices

Implementing the Science of Reading (SoR) presents several challenges for educators and institutions. These obstacles can hinder the adoption of evidence-based reading instruction methods.

1. Insufficient Teacher Preparation: Many educators have not received adequate training in the Science of Reading. This poses a lack of opportunities to practice teaching using scientifically based reading instruction.

2. Resistance to Change: Educators and administrators accustomed to traditional reading instruction methods may resist adopting new approaches. This resistance can stem from a lack of familiarity with SoR principles.

3. Limited Access to Resources: Implementing SoR practices often requires specific instructional materials and resources. Schools may face budget constraints that limit their ability to acquire these necessary tools.

4. Inconsistent Curriculum Alignment: Curricula may not align with SoR principles, leading to inconsistencies in instruction. This misalignment can cause confusion among educators and students.

5. Lack of Ongoing Support: Successful implementation of SoR practices requires continuous support from professional development and coaching. Without sustained assistance, educators may struggle to maintain fidelity to SoR methods.

Despite these challenges, innovative programs are emerging to support educators in implementing Science of Reading principles effectively. Organisations like FunFox are addressing these barriers by providing structured teaching that aligns with SoR..

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How FunFox Supports Foundational Literacy Development

FunFox is Australia's preferred online reading and writing program, offering engaging, small-group sessions tailored for students in grades 1 through 8. Their curriculum focuses on building foundational literacy skills through structured, interactive lessons.

• Writers Club (Grades 1–7): A creative writing program that improves spelling, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and storytelling skills. Students engage in activities like crafting characters, developing plots, and writing across various genres, including narrative, descriptive, and persuasive writing.

• Readers Club (Grades 3–8): A reading program designed to build phonemic awareness, fluency, and comprehension. It encourages students to explore different texts, infer meanings, and identify main ideas, promoting a love for reading.

• Qualified Educators: Teachers are experienced and trained in the FunFox approach, delivering lessons that support students' literacy development.

• Ongoing Feedback: Regular assessments and feedback help track progress and identify areas for improvement.

• Flexible Online Format: Classes are conducted via Zoom, offering convenience and accessibility for students across Australia and internationally.

Conclusion

The Science of Reading provides a research-based framework that emphasises foundational literacy skills, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension. These skills are crucial for helping children develop strong reading abilities and succeed academically. 

Understanding and implementing these concepts through models such as the Simple View of Reading and Scarborough’s Reading Rope can greatly support a child’s journey toward becoming a proficient reader.

FunFox, Australia’s favourite reading program for young learners, is aligned with the principles of the Science of Reading. With their structured, interactive approach to literacy, FunFox helps children build confidence in reading and writing from the ground up. Book a call now!

FAQs

1. Which skill is the foundation of literacy?

Phonemic awareness is the foundation of literacy, as it helps children recognise and manipulate sounds in spoken words, which is crucial for decoding and reading.

2. Is SoR structured literacy?

Yes, the Science of Reading (SoR) is based on structured literacy, which uses a systematic, explicit approach to teach foundational reading skills such as phonics, fluency, and comprehension.

3. What are the 4 blocks of reading?

The four blocks of reading are: 1) Phonemic Awareness, 2) Phonics, 3) Fluency, and 4) Comprehension. These components work together to develop strong reading skills.

4. How is reading science different from balanced literacy?

Reading science is based on research-backed methods focused on phonics and structured literacy, while balanced literacy combines phonics with whole language strategies, often lacking systematic instruction.

5. What is the 3-finger rule for reading?

The 3-finger rule is a reading strategy where children read a book and raise a finger for each word they don’t know. If they raise three fingers, the book might be too difficult for them.