Structured Literacy:
Unlocking Your Child’s Potential
for Reading Success
➡️ Structured Literacy (SL) is a proven, research-based approach that provides essential tools for students who struggle with reading, spelling, and overall literacy development—including those with dyslexia, who may also experience dysgraphia.
➡️ This approach not only supports students facing reading challenges but is also backed by substantial evidence showing its effectiveness for all learners.
➡️ SL is Orton-Gillingham-based, multisensory, and rooted in the Science of Reading. It integrates systematic, explicit instruction in decoding, spelling, and comprehension, ensuring that students gain a deep understanding of the structure of language.
Structured Literacy is not just about teaching reading;
it’s about unlocking the ability to confidently decode, understand, and enjoy the written word!
✅Key Components
Phonemic Awareness: Focuses on hearing, identifying, and manipulating sounds (phonemes) to lay the foundation for reading.
Phonics: Teaches the relationship between sounds and letters (graphemes) in a step-by-step, systematic way to help students decode words.
Orthography: Uncovers spelling patterns, such as why ‘ck’ follows short vowels, making spelling and reading more fluent.
Morphology: Helps students understand prefixes, roots, and suffixes, which strengthens vocabulary and decoding.
Syntax: Provides direct instruction in grammar and sentence structure, helping students build stronger reading and writing skills.
Semantics: Focuses on vocabulary development and comprehension to ensure students understand the meaning behind what they read.
✅Why It Works
Explicit: No guesswork—clear, direct instruction.
Systematic: Skills are introduced in a logical, cumulative order.
Engaging: Hands-on, multisensory techniques keep learning interactive and fun.
Responsive: Tailored to meet each student’s unique needs.
Supporting Lifelong Readers 🤗
Structured Literacy is not just an intervention—it’s a gift. By providing a strong foundation in reading and writing, it opens doors for lifelong learning and success. Whether a child struggles with dyslexia, reading difficulties or just needs extra support, this approach equips them with the skills they need to thrive.
Every child deserves to feel confident in their ability to read.
With Structured Literacy, that confidence is within reach!
The Science of Reading
The Literacy Triangle is a powerful visual tool that helps us pinpoint exactly where a student is struggling with reading and spelling. We know that in order to read and spell fluently, students need to process all the key elements of a word in a split second! They must move seamlessly from phonology (the sounds in the word) to orthography (the letters and how they’re written) to semantics (the meaning) in less than a second.
By using this visual, we can clearly identify the specific areas where a student needs support. The fewer areas that need intervention, the quicker the progress. However, if multiple areas require remediation, we know it may take longer—and that’s okay! This tool also helps parents and educators understand the depth of a student's challenges, guiding us in determining the right amount of support needed to help them succeed in literacy.
~Corey Pollard, Ascend Smarter Intervention (revised)