By Donell Pons
For years, I’ve worked with individuals who find reading more challenging than others—many of whom have spent their entire lives thinking they just weren’t “good” at it. They’ve developed incredible coping strategies, yet reading still feels like an uphill battle. My husband, Curtis, was one of them. It wasn’t until he received reading instruction informed by the practices of Structured Literacy as an adult that he realized reading didn’t have to be exhausting.
His experience is not unique. I see it all the time in my work with readers who need additional support. Whether it’s a child falling behind in school or an adult who never received the right instruction, Structured Literacy practices ensure the explicit, systematic approach needed to build strong reading skills.
How Structured Literacy Transforms Reading Success
Structured Literacy provides a roadmap to reading.
Reading isn’t something that just clicks for everyone. It’s a skill that must be explicitly and systematically taught. Why is Structured Literacy effective for readers who need support? Because it ensures instruction is clear, sequential, focusing on phonological awareness, decoding, spelling, and comprehension and rooted in research. It is effective for all students, but essential for students with dyslexia.
It’s never too late to become a proficient reader.
One of the most powerful things I’ve witnessed is the transformation that happens when individuals—whether children, teens, or adults—finally receive appropriate instruction informed by the principles of Structured Literacy. They gain a better understanding of how words work, leading to greater fluency and comprehension.
Reading difficulties are often hidden—but they don’t have to be.
Many readers who need support go unnoticed because they develop ways to compensate. They memorize words, rely on context clues, or avoid reading altogether. But literacy is too important to leave to chance. Structured Literacy ensures that all students, including those with dyslexia, receive the instruction they need to read and write with confidence.
Moving the Work Forward
This season of Literacy Talks is dedicated to Structured Literacy—what it is, why it matters, and how it can be implemented effectively. We’re diving into the research and sharing practical ways to bring this approach into classrooms, intervention programs, and even adult literacy instruction.If you’ve ever wondered how to make reading truly accessible to all learners, this episode is for you.
