History of SoR CookBook

The recipe of reading

A culinary journey through the science of reading

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Recipe Book

1800s A Dash of Phonics

1900s Whole Language Diet

1990 Blend of Cognitive Pathways

2001 Digital Recipes

2010 One Pot Literacy

2014 Comprehension Baking

2018 Technology Inclusion

2021 Slow Cooker: Pandemic Effects

2024 Futuristic Gastronomy

2001 The term Science of Reading emerged again as the research behind Scarborough's Reading Rope in 2001.

Science of Reading

Welcome to our kitchen of knowledge, where we’ll whip up a delicious dish of the history of the science of reading. Just like a master chef perfects their recipes over time, the understanding of how we read has evolved through centuries of research and discovery. Let’s dive into our recipe book and explore the key ingredients and methods that have shaped our understanding of reading.

2024 The Governor of PA signed into law SB 801, which requires additional reading training for all teachers through professional development that must be based on the SoR research (called Structured Literacy). Commonwealth Charter Academy introduces a K-12 Professional Learning Coach position to oversee mandates, the latest research, and mandated professional learning for teachers and administration.

1800s In the 18th century, the term science of reading can be found in research on linguistics and how to use the proper pronunciation in holy texts.

2010 The term Science of Reading and the importance of reading research received much attention in Mark Seidenberg's book "Language at the Speed of Sight".

2018 Emily Hanford produced a podcast on the need for (or lack of) decoding instruction emphasizing phonemic awareness and phonics.

Listen here

2014 The International Dyslexia Association adopted the term Structured Literacy to encapsulate the explicit and systematic instruction of phonological awareness and phonics (Based off the research behind Science of Reading). This gave them the opportunity to have one name versus using methods such as Wilson or Orton Gillingham. Whole Language had one name for what it was, but explicit phonics instruction did not.

Mid 1900s With the advancements in science, educational psychologists began to have the opportunity to learn more about how the brain develops with reading instruction. Where learning to speak is a natural process for the brain, reading and writing are not. Many see Jeanne Chall as the founding researcher in this area of cognitive research within the Science of Reading.

1990s During the "reading wars" (whole language vs. phonics) of the 1990s the term emerged again as "scientific research-based reading" and was used by the National Reading Panel.

2021 The state of Pennsylvania adopted Structured Literacy as an amendment to Act 49 (teacher training). Mandating specific teacher training and adoption of instruction based on the research behind the Science of Reading.