#73: If Your Nervous About the Science of Reading… Start Here
That Overwhelmed Feeling? You’re Not Alone
If you’ve been teaching for a while and suddenly feel like everything you knew about reading instruction is being turned upside down, take a deep breath. You’re not behind. You’re not failing. And you’re definitely not the only one feeling this way.
Maybe you’ve heard phrases like “orthographic mapping,” “phoneme-grapheme correspondence,” or “structured literacy” and thought, Wait, am I supposed to already know this?
Or maybe you’re seeing teachers on Instagram talking about decodables, sound walls, and heart words, and wondering if you missed a big memo.
Here’s the truth: the science of reading isn’t about making you feel lost. It’s about helping you feel empowered. And if you’re nervous about diving in, that just means you care deeply about doing what’s best for your students. That’s a very good place to start.
Let’s Bust the #1 Myth First
One of the biggest misconceptions about the science of reading is that it’s a “new program” or another trend that will pass.
It’s not.
The science of reading is not a curriculum. It’s not a one-size-fits-all script. It’s not a boxed set of materials you need to buy.
It’s a body of research that’s been around for decades—drawing from cognitive science, linguistics, neuroscience, and classroom-based studies. And what it tells us is simple but powerful:
Reading is not natural. It must be taught explicitly and systematically.
Our brains are wired for speech. We learn to talk just by being immersed in language. But reading? That’s a different story. Our brains need to be taught how to map sounds to letters and decode them into words.
That’s why the science of reading matters. It gives us a map for helping all kids—including struggling readers—learn how to read.
So… Where Do You Even Start?
You start exactly where you are.
You don’t have to become an expert overnight. You don’t have to throw out everything you’ve ever done. And you definitely don’t need to feel guilty about what you didn’t know.
Start by learning a few key shifts:
1. Focus on Sounds First
Before letters, before books, before anything else—students need to become aware of sounds in spoken language. This is called phonemic awareness and it’s the foundation for everything else.
Things like:
- Identifying beginning sounds in words
- Blending and segmenting sounds
- Manipulating phonemes (like changing the /c/ in cat to /h/ to make hat)
2. Link Sounds to Letters
Once students can hear sounds, we link them to letters through phonics instruction. This is where decodable books, sound-spelling patterns, and blending routines come in.
You’re showing kids how to read words by actually decoding—not guessing based on pictures or memorizing.
3. Use Decodable Books, Not Leveled Readers
This is a big one.
Leveled books often encourage guessing because they include words kids haven’t been taught how to read yet. Decodable books, on the other hand, are aligned with what kids have already learned.
They build confidence, accuracy, and real reading skills.
4. Don’t Stress About Jargon
Orthographic mapping? Morphology? Eh. You’ll learn those terms in time, but they don’t need to be your starting point.
Just focus on the big idea:
We teach kids how to connect sounds to letters so they can read words accurately and confidently.
That’s the heart of it.
What If You Feel Like You’re Behind?
Let’s be clear: You are not behind.
In fact, just by reading this, you’re already ahead of the curve.
The shift to science-based reading instruction is happening across the country. And yes, change takes time. But the amazing part? You’re not alone in this. Thousands of teachers are learning alongside you, asking the same questions, and slowly building their confidence one strategy at a time.
The most important thing is that you’re willing to learn.
Let Go of the Guilt
If you’ve been teaching reading a certain way for years—maybe with leveled books, sight word lists, or three-cueing systems—and you’re just now realizing there’s a better way, it’s OK.
In fact, it’s more than OK.
It means you’re open. You’re growing. You’re doing exactly what we hope our students do.
Give yourself grace. You’re not “just now catching up” — you’re evolving. And that’s something to celebrate.
A Simple Way to Begin
Still wondering where to begin? Here’s a simple, 3-step starting point:
- Pick one phonics routine to master. Blending lines? Sound mapping? Start small.
- Swap out one leveled reader for a decodable book. Watch how your students respond.
- Join a community of support. You shouldn’t have to figure this all out alone.
That’s where The Science of Reading Formula comes in.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- Why it’s totally normal to feel nervous about shifting to science-based reading instruction.
- The biggest myth that holds teachers back from making the switch.
- How the science of reading differs from how we were taught.
- What you actually need to focus on first (hint: it’s not mastering all the jargon).
- Why small shifts—not perfection—can have a big impact in your classroom.
Bringing It All Together
If you’re feeling nervous about the science of reading, let this be your starting point—not your stopping point.
You can do this. You are capable of learning this. And you will see a difference in your students when you implement it.
Remember: this isn’t about being perfect. It’s about progress. And every small step you take is building a stronger reading foundation for the kids in your classroom.
Want More Support? Join The Science of Reading Formula
Inside The Science of Reading Formula, you’ll get the step-by-step guidance, ready-to-use phonics tools, and supportive community you need to feel confident in this shift.
You don’t have to figure it out alone. Let’s do this together.
LINKS
Become a Science of Reading Formula member!
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