How do children learn to read and spell?

Science tells us all children learn to read and spell in the same way - via systematic, structured phonics

Young children learn to speak by listening to those around them. Over time, with many exposures to hearing spoken language, children will begin to speak on their own. This is called a primary skill - it is a natural skill that humans are born with.

The same is not true for reading and writing. Our alphabet is a human invention. We cannot simply expose children to the alphabet and expect them to understand and use it correctly. Therefore, reading and spelling are secondary skills and they need to be taught explicitly and systematically in order for children to learn adequately.

Learning Legends uses Sounds-Write, a Structured Literacy approach. I take the skills children are born with (spoken language) and build from that knowledge so children become proficient in reading and spelling.

The Ladder of Reading below was created by Nancy Young. It outlines perfectly why a Structured Literacy approach is absolutely vital for children with learning differences such as dyslexia. However, structured Literacy is beneficial for all children learning to read and spell.