South Dakota Launches Effort to Build Better Readers

The greatest gift a teacher can give a child is the ability to read. Knowing how to read well is the foundation for all future learning.

One of the most contentious debates in education over the years has been which method is the most effective in teaching children to read. There have been two main schools of thought: phonics (teaching the sounds that each letter makes, then building on that to have kids sound out words as they are written) and the whole-language approach (identifying and memorizing whole words).

This debate led to extensive research over the past two decades, and now, finally, the results are in: the best way to teach a child to read is to start with phonics. Researchers tested all of the known methods, and then they retested them. Once they had the full results, they formed a blueprint of how to best teach reading called the "Science of Reading."

Besides phonics, researchers also emphasize phonetic awareness (identifying the sounds in words), vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Children who have explicit instruction in these five areas will be set up for success in reading for the rest of their lives.

With this in mind, the South Dakota Department of Education (DOE) is launching a literacy campaign this fall. Called "Moving Literacy Forward," the campaign’s goal is to improve literacy outcomes for students and build better readers across the state.

A foundational part of this campaign is AIM Pathways, an online, interactive teacher training tool. The DOE has partnered with the AIM Institute to provide teachers with the training you need to effectively teach reading based upon the Science of Reading. AIM Pathways has options for all educators (administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals), offering training in the Science of Reading teaching practices. The five different courses offered through the AIM institute include Pathways to Proficient Reading, Pathways to Proficient Writing, Pathways to Literacy Leadership, Early Childhood Bundle, and Steps to Literacy II bundle. These courses are offered FREE through the DOE with the opportunity for participants to receive graduate credits through Dakota State University at the reduced tuition rate, or continuing education contact hours through the department.

Please take time to explore the AIM Pathway that best fits your teaching area. The DOE is encouraging school administrators to make this training a priority for their teachers.