The business of education is always changing. Many trends come and go over the years while some will come back in a brand-new form years later. Reading education and literacy instruction are no different.
According to ProLiteracy, a nonprofit organization, forty-three million adults can’t read above a third-grade level. This year, 2023, may be the year to truly highlight the importance of literacy and improve reading instruction. The key is to watch for the trends in literacy instruction that yield positive results. Interestingly enough, some words and phrases are identified as trends this year when in reality they have been used in classrooms for 40 years.
Science of Reading Movement
The science of reading movement is a current trend in the way the term is coined this year along with the media surrounding it. Many educators believe this is a new trend in reading. However, the research behind the science of reading has been used in schools for over forty years. The “science of reading” is not a trend, but the current movement is. Until now, this systematic approach to literacy instruction has primarily been used by reading specialists with graduate and doctoral degrees in literacy. These educators have implemented the five pillars of reading instruction and structured phonics instruction into their teaching for decades.
This movement has simply provided awareness and an avenue to share research-based facts and knowledge with classroom teachers across the country. It is a buzzword but should not be considered a trend. In fact, it should be considered best practice and should be implemented daily in classrooms during whole group, small group, and independent literacy stations.
Equity in Literacy
In the twenty-first century, cases continue to be heard in courts debating whether literacy should be a fundamental right for children in schools. Documentaries are being produced to highlight disparities in the educational system and the countless programs used in the teaching of reading for children across the United States. And yet, equity in literacy remains a trend. Fidelity and consistency of reading instruction in schools are essential for equity in literacy for all students.
Access to quality books, hands-on materials, and recommended reading resources are also necessary for equity in literacy to exist. Until our school boards and curriculum departments purchase the best resources in literacy to support every school, teacher, and student based on their individual needs, there will not be equity in literacy. Unfortunately, the current trend of banning books is also limiting equity in literacy because it is removing the power of student choice in selecting books to read.
Family Engagement in Children Literacy
I have never heard a parent say they don’t want to help their child learn to read. I have heard countless parents tell me they don’t know how to help their child learn to read. That is exactly the reason why I was inspired to write the book Tackle Reading, to help families increase reading success at home for their students to achieve literacy success in school. Summer reading programs through public libraries, family literacy nights through schools, and community events to raise awareness of family engagement in children literacy are essential to make this happen.
Some schools have gone so far to host book clubs and parent university events to give families tips, tools, and techniques to help children at home on their developmental reading journey. We know that family engagement and early literacy skills are essential for children to thrive in reading education.
Educational Technology and Artificial Intelligence
ChatGPT has already been banned in schools in the United States and around the world, but educational technology and artificial intelligence are important trends to consider in reading education. Districts have a specific budget allocated solely for educational technology. Thus, students are spending hours in the classroom on a daily basis on educational technology (much to parents’ dismay), and many of the platforms and applications have been created to support reading instruction.
The pandemic showed us that virtual instruction did not yield the same results as a quality literacy lesson in person. AI and educational technology are trends to constantly watch as it is ever changing. When we use it to support and enhance a teacher’s literacy instruction rather than replace it is when we will see the best reading results for kids.
Literacy Professional Development for Educators
Reading is the most complex subject to teach with often the least amount of support. This is when literacy professional development for educators becomes pertinent to helping students achieve reading success. As more veteran teachers leave the profession, a majority of teachers in schools have zero to five years of experience and need the support. Organizations like the Bureau of Education and Research have provided online webinars, in-person seminars, and on-site professional development for forty years and continue to evolve with the trends to support K-12 education nationwide, especially in literacy education.
While companies offer professional development on their products, it is the professional development from reading specialists, district-level coaches, and literacy consultants that actually help teachers understand how to implement products and instructional practices to help students increase literacy success. This is a trend to support and one that will have the greatest impact in literacy instruction for students.
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