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The Science of Reading | Getting Reading Right from the Start

Jun 18, 2020
 
 

 

Currently, more than a third of the nation’s fourth graders are unable to read at a basic level, and they’re not likely to become proficient readers by the time they leave high school. And it’s not just a reading problem. Students who do not learn to read have difficulty with academic content throughout school and may never fulfill their potential. 

 

The good news is that educators can make a difference for their students in this pivotal skill. No matter the child’s background, research shows that given the right instruction in the early years, many reading deficits can be prevented. The majority of students at risk for reading failure can, in fact, learn to read if they are identified early and given systematic, intensive instruction.

 

The Science of Reading

Reading is an integration of processing skills: phonological processing, word attack, orthographic processing, word recognition, contextual fluency, oral vocabulary, and comprehension. Lindamood-Bell’s evidence-based approach addresses the imagery-language foundation that is a silent partner to cognition and literacy—often a missing piece in closing the achievement gap for students at-risk for reading failure.  The primary cause of a weakness in language and literacy skills is a weakness in one or more of the following:

✓ Phoneme awareness – The ability to auditorily perceive sounds within words.

✓ Symbol imagery – The ability to create mental imagery for sounds and letters within words.

✓ Concept imagery – The ability to create mental representations for the whole; the dynamic imagery of actions, scenes, movement, etc.

The right assessment battery can identify the areas of weakness and help determine what exactly to do for instruction. The right instruction can bring these abilities to consciousness and change an individual’s ability to read and comprehend.

 

Experience and Results

Since 1986, Lindamood-Bell has worked with schools, educators, and students to implement programs and organizational processes that develop or remediate literacy skills. We help educators provide evidence-based, sensory-cognitive instruction as a basis for developing phonemic awareness, phonics, orthographic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. 

Our partnerships with schools have succeeded in closing the achievement gap by providing explicit, cumulative, and systematic instruction in this methodology. We have substantial evidence of effectiveness with turning around low-performing schools and increasing reading proficiency with struggling readers, including students with dyslexia and in special education, and English Language Learners. 

Explore our results with schools here.

 

Case Study | Fort Smith Public Schools

Fort Smith Public Schools in Fort Smith, Arkansas, serves a large percentage of students who are at-risk of reading failure. Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, Fort Smith Public Schools implemented Lindamood-Bell® instruction to address the specific needs of dyslexic students and provide a solid foundation for all early learners. The partnership has been cost-effective for schools and life-changing for students. Read about their successful Summer Reading Program and download the results here.

 

 

These changes were reflected across subpopulations of Economically Disadvantaged, Special Education, and English Language Learners. The results of this study illustrate that implementing Lindamood-Bell instruction in the Seeing Stars® and Visualizing and Verbalizing® programs in whole classroom settings leads to improved reading, which is essential to achieving success with school curricula.

 

Peer-Review

Numerous peer-reviewed articles based on studies examining the effectiveness of Lindamood-Bell® instruction have been published in scholarly journals – Summary of Behavioral & Neurological Research

Recently, researchers from the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, University of Washington, published a paper on dyslexia that explores how intensive intervention drives the growth of reading skills in struggling readers. Dr. Jason Yeatman, one of the study’s researchers, says that although dyslexia is often thought of as permanent, the findings indicate that the targeted, intensive instruction leads to “substantial” improvements in reading skills and changes in the “underlying wiring of the brain’s reading circuitry.”

 “The process of educating a child is physically changing the brain,” said Jason Yeatman, an assistant professor in both the UW Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS). “We were able to detect changes in brain connections within just a few weeks of beginning the intervention program. It’s underappreciated that teachers are brain engineers who help kids build new brain circuits for important academic skills like reading.” Find out more about this research, including an article titled, Teachers are Brain Engineers.

 

A teacher’s perspective

Special Educator Sonya Bledsoe describes her experience using sensory-cognitive instruction.

 

 

 

The Science of Reading | Lindamood-Bell for Your Teachers and Students 

We are proud to support teachers as they implement explicit and systematic instruction in evidence-based practices.  Research-validated programs are key to our solutions for schools.

Lindamood-Bell® professional development services are 100% available online, including teacher workshops, help with online teaching, job-embedded coaching, and comprehensive school partnerships. We help schools build expertise in aligning assessments with instruction for students in all tiers of instruction. Our programs address the skills needed for students to access curriculum:

 

Reading and Spelling Programs

Seeing Stars

Symbol Imagery for Phonological and Orthographic Processing in Reading and Spelling

Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing (LiPS)

Phonemic Awareness for Reading, Spelling, and Speech

 

Comprehension Programs

Visualizing and Verbalizing (VV)

Concept Imagery for Language Comprehension, Thinking, and Memory

Talkies

Foundational Development in Concept Imagery, Oral Language Comprehension, and Expression

 

Schools partner with us for our expertise in aligning assessments with instruction for students in all tiers of instruction. Our programs address the skills needed for students to access any core curriculum. While district needs vary, we help apply best practices to diverse challenges. Explore our schedule of online professional development workshops. Contact us with questions and to discuss how your school can get started, including quotes for in-service events 800-233-1819.

Connect with us
Our unique approach develops the imagery-language foundation for math. Students of all ages can catch up and enjoy math for the first time. Learn more and get started at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell #testimonial #math #dyscalculia
Lindamood-Bell Academy is a school where every student can thrive! We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in person or live online. 
Enroll now and enjoy 25% off one month of tuition! 
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📖🐾 Roan & Sammy’s Incredible Journey!
In the December issue of Real Simple, Ruth Gentry shares how Sammy, a disabled rescue dog, became a source of strength and support as Roan worked to overcome dyslexia. With Lindamood-Bell instruction and Sammy by his side, Roan’s confidence has soared—and now he reads to Sammy every night!
✨ Watch Roan read from the Real Simple article about their inspiring story! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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🎧 New Podcast Episode 🎧
Discover how Lindamood-Bell’s online instruction transforms learning. Alyson shares how her young daughter made big strides in reading and spelling, while Paul Worthington, our Director of Research and Development, highlights data showing students thrive online just as they do in person.
🎙️ Listen now, follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#LindamoodBell #podcast #testimonial
Lindamood-Bell Academy is a school where every student can thrive! We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in person or live online. 
Enroll now and enjoy 25% off one month of tuition! 🌟Learn more and get started today! 
Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbellacademy #lindamoodbell #privateschool #personalizedlearning
This Thanksgiving, we’re reminded there’s always something to be thankful for—and at Lindamood-Bell, we’re especially thankful for you!
There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a student’s joy when they achieve something they once thought impossible—like proudly reading their first story. Moments like these inspire us every day.
Thank you for being part of the Lindamood-Bell family. Wishing you a holiday filled with joy and gratitude!
With gratitude,
Your friends at Lindamood-Bell
🎉 Learning Success Just Got More Affordable!
Help your student build essential reading and comprehension skills with small group instruction—now available at over 40% savings compared to one-to-one instruction.
📚 Available in-person or live online, our proven approach delivers real results.
👉 Learn More and Get Started Today! Follow the link in our profile, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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Take advantage of special savings on Winter Break instruction!
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Lindamood-Bell helps students of all ages catch up, overcome learning loss, or get ahead. Our individualized instruction builds skills and confidence, setting students up for lasting success.
Don’t miss out—contact your local learning center today to learn more! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #testimonial
Lindamood-Bell Academy can make a difference for your child!
Every one-to-one or small-group class is live and interactive, whether in person or online. Students feel successful right from the start.
Enroll now and enjoy 25% off one month of tuition! 
🌟Learn more and get started today! 
Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell #privateschool
📚 Attention Educators!
Many students struggle with reading comprehension even when their decoding and vocabulary skills are strong. The missing piece? Concept imagery—the ability to create a mental “big picture” from language.
Explore our latest blog for insights and practical strategies to help your students succeed in comprehension and critical thinking.
👉 Read more in our latest blog post, follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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#lindamoodbell
Help your child catch up, conquer learning loss, or get ahead—our individualized instruction can set them up for success!
Contact your local learning center today for special savings on Winter Break instruction!
👉 Visit our website for details and to get started today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #testimonial
❄️ Don’t miss our Winter Wonderland Learning Savings!❄️
📚 10% OFF instruction during Winter Break!
Help your child catch up, conquer learning loss, or get ahead—our individualized instruction will set them up for success and confidence in the New Year.
👉 Visit our website for details and to get started today! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Lindamood-Bell Academy can make a difference for your child!
Every one-to-one or small-group class is live and interactive, whether in person or online. Students feel successful right from the start.
Enroll now and enjoy 25% off one month of tuition! 
🌟Learn more and get started today! 
Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
.
.
.
#LindamoodBellAcademy #LindamoodBell #privateschool
Our evidence-based instruction is effective whether you attend in person or live online! Students everywhere, including those with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, can gain new skills and confidence—and have a successful school year. Contact your local learning center today for special school year savings! Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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#lindamoodbell #tutor #testimonial
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