In this Reading Masterclass, Dr. T explains the Science of Reading in clear, practical terms, helping parents and educators understand how reading develops, what progress should look like, and how to support children with dyslexia and other learning differences.In this episode, you’ll learn:

How children learn to read—from phonemic awareness and phonics to decoding and comprehension, what the Science of Reading means (and what it doesn’t), how reading instruction has evolved from Whole Language and Balanced Literacy to Structured Literacy, key early literacy milestones from pre-K through 2nd grade, why multilingualism matters in reading development, common myths about dyslexia, letter reversals, and reading struggles, and practical steps parents can take at home—and smart questions to ask schools about reading programs and assessments.

Whether your child is thriving or struggling with reading due to dyslexia, or other learning differences, this masterclass will help you better understand their reading journey and advocate for the instruction they need.🔑 The Five Essential Components of Reading (Identified by the National Reading Panel)Phonemic AwarenessPhonics – Systematic instruction in letter–sound relationshipsFluency – Reading with accuracy, rate, and expressionVocabulary – Knowing and understanding wordsComprehension – Making meaning from text (the ultimate goal of reading)🧠 Instructional Approaches to Reading• Whole Language – Emphasizes immersion in books with minimal phonics instruction.• Balanced Literacy – Combines literature with some phonics, often using leveled texts and guided reading.• Three-Cueing System – Encourages students to guess words using meaning, structure, and visual cues rather than decoding.• Science of Reading – A body of interdisciplinary research explaining how the brain learns to read; shows that reading is not natural and must be explicitly taught.• Structured Literacy – An evidence-based approach aligned with the Science of Reading, featuring explicit, systematic phonics instruction.• Decodable Texts – Texts designed to match taught phonics patterns so students practice decoding instead of guessing.📊 Reading Models & Assessment Tools• Scarborough’s Reading Rope – A model showing how word recognition and language comprehension strands work together to create skilled readers.• Screeners – Brief assessments used to flag potential reading difficulties.• Diagnostic Assessments – In-depth tools used to identify the specific source of a reading challenge.National Reading Panel Report:https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pubs/nrp/Documents/report.pdfhttps://www.apmreports.org/episode/2019/08/22/whats-wrong-how-schools-teach-readingHow the Brain Learns to Read - Prof. Stanislas Dehaenehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25GI3-kiLdoDisclaimer: The views shared on this channel are my own and do not represent any institution. All content is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, or professional advice