Part 2: FAQs from Our Big City Reader Community

Apr 23

Our Big City Reader followers (both parents and teachers) alway bring insightful questions, especially about the Science of Reading. In this podcast episode, I had the opportunity to ask Jessica some of your questions.

With her deep understanding of the Science of Reading approach, Jessica offered her perspectives and I’m here to share the highlights of her responses.

“How Can I Support the Shift to Science of Reading Instruction?”

Are you a parent feeling passionate about advocating for Science of Reading instruction but unsure where to start? You're not alone. Here are some steps you can take:

Get Involved: Attend school board and PTO meetings. Your presence and voice can make a difference.
Stay Positive: When sharing research or resources (especially those free gems everyone appreciates), come from a positive place. Lean into the idea that you’re sharing information that is important and coming from a place of love to support your community.
Open Communication is Key: As a parent, when talking to teachers, focus on sharing the positive outcomes you've seen with your child at home. Highlight the strategies and resources that have made a difference for your child. This will help keep the line of communication open in a positive way and help with the school-home connection for your child.

“What Do I Do When My Child Doesn’t Know a Word?”

When Jessica discusses what to do if your child doesn't recognize a word, she emphasizes the importance of allowing room for productive struggle and repetition.

It's natural to want to jump in and say the word for your child, but it's really important to let them work through the challenge on their own. Working through unfamiliar words is an important skill as a reader. And this approach helps your child become a more resilient and independent reader.

If your child comes across many difficult words in a book, it might be a sign that the book is too challenging for them at the moment. However, if they're just stumbling over a few words here and there, encourage them to try to figure them out. Offer support and guide them through the process, but avoid simply providing the word.

Jessica, drawing from her experience as both a mom and a former teacher, stresses the importance of mutual respect in these conversations.

“How Do I Do Guided Reading in Kindergarten If They Can’t Read?”

You don’t. That’s her simple answer! Or at least, if they aren’t reading, don’t force a traditional guided reading session.

If you’d like to run a small reading group in your kindergarten classroom, Jessica has resources that begin in the pre-alphabetic stage for children who aren’t reading yet. Think activities like alphabetic knowledge and phonemic and phonological awareness. (Her information is linked below!)

And if you want to get books into your students' hands, then focus on concepts of print—ask questions like, "Where's the front cover?" "Can you point to an illustration in the book?" "Where's the period?" "Point to a word."

Support your students in small groups with what they need.

“I Work with Middle Schoolers Reading at a First Grade Level. Where Do I Start?”

Jessica notes a significant issue in many school districts: the tendency to wait until third or even eighth grade to address students' reading struggles. This delay can lead to middle school and high school students reading below grade level.

For these students, start with a decoding assessment. If they struggle with decoding, consider evaluating their phonemic awareness and even their knowledge of the alphabet.

You can incorporate Phonic Books, which are decodable readers. These look like chapter books and have more mature illustrations for your older students. This is important to keep in mind for their social-emotional needs.

ReadWorks offers decodable articles and grade-level passages for free. These resources include topics that might be covered in your class and they’re available at different reading levels, which allows you to meet students where they are, while keeping the class focused on the same topic.

“Explicit Instruction Feels Impossible with So Many Students. What Do I Do?”

Jessica emphasizes really focusing on your routines for direct instruction. A great way to start is to try incorporating checklists on the board that have the steps that outline your lesson, so students can follow along and know what to expect. For instance, a list might include 1. Phonemic Awareness, 2. New Concept, 3. Word Blending, 4. Seat Work.

This approach not only empowers students by familiarizing them with a consistent routine, but it can also enhance their ability to focus during lessons. Aim to keep the structure of your lessons as routine and repetitive as possible daily

Jessica also suggests trying to be as enthusiastic as you can about a lesson. Many teachers have relayed to her in the past that teaching phonics can be so boring and if you convey that to your students, they’ll likely feel the same way. But if you bring a positive energy, your students will pick up on that and it will help with their attitude toward learning. It can be simple, just saying things like, “Hey, we’re going to learn about this really cool vowel team today. It’s one of my favorites because it’s in words like eat and I love to eat. And it’s in the word beach and I love the beach!”

“What’s Your Advice for New Teachers?”

Jessica relays:

Hang in there!
Concentrate on what matters most. For instance, if grading papers and making sure they're sent home is a priority, dedicate the first 15 minutes of your daily planning time to do this everyday.
It's natural to work a bit beyond your contract hours in the early years of teaching, so don't feel guilty about it. Just be careful not to overextend yourself.
Ask for help. Find a teacher friend you connect with. And know you aren’t supposed to have all the answers, no one does!
Be kind to yourself!

Want to Learn More About Teaching Reading?

I hope this information helped you learn more on your Science of Reading journey.

Jessica is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to effective instruction and teaching reading. For more tips and insights, please follow along with Jessica of Farmer Loves Phonics!

For more tips and insights to nurture lifelong learners, hop over to my Instagram page.

And, don't forget to explore episodes on the podcast, Play On Words, where you’ll hear more about making learning fun and accessible for all.

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I’m the founder of BCR, host of the Play on Words podcast, a consultant for the Chicago Public Library, and more! On the blog, I regularly share my tips, insights, and knowledge on early literacy.