Why Fidelity Boosts Reading Success
Why Fidelity Boosts Reading Success:
Fidelity of practice is an essential component of effective teaching, particularly when first introducing students to the complex world of the alphabetic code in early years.
In educational terms, fidelity refers to the accuracy and consistency with which teachers implement evidence-informed instructional practices.
When classroom teachers introduce new and complex alphabetic code knowledge to students, being purposefully mindful of adhering to fidelity is super important.
Fidelity and accuracy of instruction is critical when teaching the phoneme - grapheme link is important to not overload children's cognitive load.
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Research has shown that fidelity of instruction which focuses on accurate and exact teaching practice, helps to not breach students' working memory limits..
When learning new and/or complex information, working memory can become overloaded and overwhelmed. Yet by faithfully adhering to solid instructional scripts, teachers can present new and complex information in a clear and structured manner.
This ensures less confusion and makes it easier for students to absorb and retain key information.
Fidelity ensures accuracy. Poor teacher instructional practices have been shown to deeply impact student learning and progress.
By 'sticking to the script' and faithfully using prescribed instructional methods and materials, teachers ensure that accurate information is being delivered.
Why Fidelity Boosts Reading Instruction - It's all About the Stress
A not well understood benefit of fidelity of instruction is that it can significantly reduce stress on classroom teachers.
Classroom teaching can be a terribly demanding profession and teachers are often required to juggle multiple responsibilities.
But by using purposefully devised scripts and standardized instructional methods teachers have access to a framework that guides their instructional practice and can reduce the level of uncertainty and stress associated with teaching practices as found in balanced literacy approaches that tend to be more open-ended and inquiry.
This reduces trial-and-error and the choose your own adventure style of teaching - to quote Pam Snow - and enables teachers to focus on delivering instruction without ambiguity, which can only enhance student engagement.
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When teachers use specific scripts, they deliver content in a prescribed manner designed to achieve the best results. The power of scripts lies in their ability to standardize teaching across different classrooms, ensuring every student receives the same high-quality instruction.
Furthermore the adherence to scripts is important where consistency and accuracy are key to students learning the many alphabetic codes. Which of course they need to master to progress to reading automaticity and eventual reading success.
Most high quality synthetic phonics instructional methods have diligently designed and test instructional scripts. These are a gift to teachers who looks to excel in teaching literacy.
The great bonus they make a teachers' working life that much better and far less stressful.
Why Fidelity Boosts Reading Success - Clear Expectations
Fidelity of instruction fosters and establishes routines and expectations for students during reading lessons.
Research science underpins this idea and informs us that students thrive in learning environments where routines are predictable and expectations are clear.
By following an instructional script, teachers assist students to understand what is expected of them, while reducing their own stress because of the clarity and predictability both teachers and students experience.
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When teachers deliver reading instruction via scripts with accuracy, they provide repeated, consistent practice opportunities for all students.
This consistent practice helps to reinforce new learnings, aid students to achieve automaticity and mastery in key concepts, and boosts recall of new information with a minimum of effort thereby not overtly taxing finite cognitive and memory resources.
Why Fidelity Boosts Reading Success - Monitoring Progress
The impact of fidelity doesn’t only help to improve student outcomes. An added benefit is that classroom teachers can more effectively monitor student progress and identify those who may need additional support.
This attention to accuracy and detail with consistent review enables timely interventions that can address learning gaps before they widen and lead to reading failure.
Why Fidelity Boosts Reading Success - Some Challenges
Of course, the successful implementation of high-fidelity instruction comes with many challenges.
Here are just a few...
School Leadership: leadership needs to ensure that all of their teaching staff are adequately trained in the use of specific instructional scripts and methods. Without proper training, there is a risk that fidelity may be compromised, reducing the effectiveness of the instructional program.
Coaching and Peer Support:
Ongoing coaching, peer support and continued professional development is essential to maintain high standards of teaching.
Benefits:
And yet the benefits far outweigh the expected challenges. When teachers faithfully implement evidence-based instructional practices, they contribute to a culture of excellence and continuous improvement within their schools. This culture encourages collaboration and shared commitment to student success, fostering a supportive educational environment.
Fidelity of teaching instruction could be though of as being akin to a doctor prescribing life saving medication. Would we have confidence in a medico who had a pharmacologically experimental approach to administering medication?
No, of course not.
We would rightly be upset with such an unprofessional and cavalier attitude. Just as medical professionals follow strict protocols and procedures to ensure safety, as educators we must adhere to consistent instructional methods to guide our students to achieve academic success.
Why Fidelity Boosts Reading Success - Summary
In the end, fidelity is less about following a script and more about understanding the rationale behind each instructional decision.
Tt's about committing to a proven method that works. Adherence to accurate and effective teaching methods helps ensure that all students and especially those that need it most have the level of instruction that they need.
REFERENCES
McGuiness, D. (2004) Early Reading Instruction: What Science Really Tells Us about How to Teach Reading, A Bradford Book
Jump, J. & Kopp K. (2023) What the Science of Reading says about Reading Comprehension and Content Knowledge
Snow, Pam. The Snow Report Blog, https://pamelasnow.blogspot.com/
Uploaded 07/2024
