Science of Reading:
A glossary
The Science of Reading reflects decades of research on how children best learn to read and which instructional practices best support their journey. Understanding common Science of Reading definitions can help fast-track your instruction, so we鈥檝e put together this glossary as a starting point.
Common Science of Reading terms
Some of the most important terms for building your understanding of the Science of Reading:
Alphabetic principle: The understanding that specific sounds can be mapped onto specific letters
Biliteracy: The ability to communicate effectively in two different languages
Composition: The creation or organization of a written piece, short or long
Comprehension: The ability to understand what is written or said
Decoding: Translating a word from print to speech by understanding sound-spelling correspondences
Domain-specific knowledge: Understanding of the key principles in a specific subject area (such as scientific principles, poetry conventions)
Domain-specific vocabulary: Words key to understanding a specific subject area (such as scientific terms, poetic terms, technical terms)
Dyslexia: A language-based learning disorder or set of learning differences that makes it difficult to learn to read, write, or spell
Encoding: Translating a word from speech to print by understanding sound-spelling correspondences
Fluency: The ability to read a text with accuracy, speed, and expression
Inferences: Conclusions drawn through reasoning, without their being stated directly in a text
Learning differences: The unique ways in which brains can process information and the different rates at which they do it
Mental model: A general idea or structure of information that can be applied to many texts
Metacognition: Being mindful of one鈥檚 own thinking processes, including using knowledge of a given task, knowledge of cognitive strategies, and knowledge of one鈥檚 self, to successfully learn
Morphology: The study of word parts and how words are formed
: A comprehensive framework designed to provide systematic and differentiated support to all students
Phoneme: The smallest unit of sound that distinguishes one word from another
Phonemic awareness: The ability to identify and work with individual sounds (phonemes) within a word
Phonics: Teaching the relationship between the sounds in oral language and the letters in written language
: A visual representation of the way decoding and comprehension skills work together in the brain of a skilled reader
Reasoning: The ability to apply knowledge based on new or existing information to comprehend the meaning of a passage
Science of Reading: The body of ongoing scientific research about how the brain works when one is learning to read, and how reading is best taught
Science of Writing: The body of ongoing scientific research about how the brain works when one is learning to write, and how writing is best taught
Sight recognition: The ability to recognize a written word without having to sound it out (also called word recognition)
Simple View of Reading: A framework that explains how word recognition and language comprehension work together to produce skilled reading
Simple View of Writing: A framework that explains how transcription and composition skills work together to produce skilled writing
Tier 1 instruction: Core grade-level instruction
Tier 2 instruction: Additional support for small groups of students to reinforce grade-level instruction
Tier 3 instruction: Intensive, more individualized intervention
Transcription: The process of converting speech into written text
Vocabulary: The quantity and quality of words a student knows
Word recognition: The ability to recognize a written word without having to sound it out (also called sight recognition)
Your guide to getting started with the Science of Reading
Looking for more grounding in the Science of Reading? Download our free ebook.
Download now
