When it comes to the science of teaching reading, there are several tips that can help teachers improve their instruction and support their students' reading development. As you prepare for the Science of Teaching Certification test, it can help to look at the test as a test of your knowledge of teaching reading.
Fundamentals
With that in mind we can dive right in and talk about some extremely helpful tips that can lead to your success. Beginning with the basics, it is extremely important to know the fundamentals of teaching reading. These include but not limited to:
phonemic awareness
phonics
fluency
vocabulary
comprehension
You will indefinitely see one or more of the above show up on your test. Take the following practice question for example:
1. Which component is crucial for early reading development?
A) Reading comprehension skills B) Advanced vocabulary acquisition C) Phonological awareness D) Critical thinking abilities The correct answer being phonological awareness. Achieving phonological awareness stems from the basics of comprehending sounds and being able to recognize familiar sounds to build new word comprehension. It is an experience that comes first before any vocabulary, reading, or thinking skills.
Struggling Readers
Knowing these foundational skills will help you plan effective lessons plans for students and as you prepare for how your students will one day learn to read you should also consider how you can help struggling readers. The STR test won't explicitly expect you to know everything about teaching reading but you should be able to comprehend the best decision going in to be a teacher after all! The following practice question tests you on this very concept:
2. How does the science of teaching reading address the needs of struggling readers?
A) By placing struggling readers in lower-level reading groups
B) By using remedial reading programs exclusively for struggling readers
C) By providing targeted interventions and differentiated instruction
D) By promoting whole-class instruction without differentiation You may be tempted to chose between a or b because you may have seen past teachers do the very things mentioned: A. relocation of students into familiar grouping
B. Excluding students to a program designed to assist But why are the above choices so bad? It all stems from inclusion. In a moment of weakness you may feel sorry for students struggling to read but lets not forget how difficult it can be to read for the first time. (Ever tried learning a new language? I'm sure you also felt frustration) Correct Answer: C By providing targeted interventions and differentiated instruction, teachers are able to assist students. The powerful language of the term "targeted" implies care and attention to what the students' needs are.
We hope the above post helped you learn a bit more then you already knew! If you are interested in learning more consider finding a tutor during your journey to passing the STR.
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