_edited.jpg)
How the Robinson Reading System Aligns with the Science of Reading
The Science of Reading (SoR) is a research-based framework that defines how people learn to read and the most effective instructional practices for literacy education. It is grounded in decades of cognitive science, linguistics, and neuroscience, emphasizing explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
The Robinson Reading System (RRS) is a linguistic approach to literacy education that aligns with the core principles of the Science of Reading. Designed to support students of all reading abilities—including those with dyslexia and other language-based learning difficulties—RRS provides an evidence-based and structured path to mastering reading.
What is the Science of Reading?
The Science of Reading is not a specific program but a body of research that informs how reading instruction should be structured. It debunks ineffective methods like whole language and balanced literacy, which rely on memorization and guessing strategies rather than direct instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics.
According to SoR research, effective reading instruction includes:
✅ Explicit phonemic awareness instruction
✅ Systematic phonics instruction
✅ Decoding and encoding practice
✅ Fluency development
✅ Comprehension strategies
The Science of Reading is often represented by the "Simple View of Reading" (Gough & Tunmer, 1986) and Scarborough’s Reading Rope (Scarborough, 2001), both of which highlight the need for strong word recognition skills (decoding) and language comprehension to achieve reading proficiency.
How the Robinson Reading System Aligns with the Science of Reading
1. Explicit and Systematic Phonemic Awareness Instruction
The Robinson Reading System prioritizes phonemic awareness, ensuring that students master the 41 sounds of English before encountering complex spelling rules.
🔹 How RRS Meets This Requirement:
Uses sound-to-symbol correspondence to make English phonemically transparent, eliminating the confusion of irregular spellings.
Teaches phonemic awareness explicitly through sound cards and direct instruction, ensuring students can hear, identify, and manipulate phonemes before applying them to print.
Supports dyslexic learners by reinforcing phonemic awareness with multisensory techniques (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile).
2. Systematic and Structured Phonics Instruction
The Science of Reading emphasizes that phonics instruction must be systematic and explicit, following a logical sequence rather than relying on incidental exposure to words.
🔹 How RRS Meets This Requirement:
Introduces the most common spelling patterns first, ensuring that students can decode words predictably before encountering irregular spellings.
Uses a linguistic approach similar to Pinyin for Mandarin, simplifying English spelling temporarily to strengthen phonics skills.
Ensures decoding is prioritized before memorization, preventing students from relying on guessing strategies.
3. Strong Decoding and Encoding (Spelling) Instruction
The ability to decode (read) and encode (spell) words is crucial for literacy development. The Robinson Reading System teaches spelling and reading together, reinforcing the reciprocal relationship between these skills.
🔹 How RRS Meets This Requirement:
Students sound out and spell words using a controlled phonetic system before transitioning to standard English spelling.
Teaches morphology (prefixes, roots, suffixes), helping students understand how words are built.
Includes direct spelling instruction as part of reading lessons, ensuring that encoding skills develop alongside decoding.
4. Fluency Development
Reading fluency is the bridge between word recognition and comprehension. Students must read accurately, at an appropriate speed, and with expression to fully comprehend text.
🔹 How RRS Meets This Requirement:
Encourages fluency through decodable texts, ensuring that students only encounter words they have been taught to decode.
Uses repeated reading and oral practice to help students build automaticity.
Provides structured fluency exercises, preventing students from relying on guessing or sight-word memorization.
5. Vocabulary and Language Comprehension
The Science of Reading highlights that reading is not just about decoding—it must also include comprehension. Strong vocabulary development and exposure to rich language structures help students understand what they read.
🔹 How RRS Meets This Requirement:
Teaches high-frequency words through phonics rather than rote memorization, ensuring that students can decode words they will see frequently in text.
Introduces meaningful text early rather than relying on unnatural, repetitive sentences.
Incorporates fiction, historical nonfiction, and natural sciences to expose students to content-rich reading material.
6. Research-Based and Data-Driven Instruction
The Science of Reading is grounded in empirical research, requiring that instructional programs demonstrate effectiveness through data.
🔹 How RRS Meets This Requirement:
A 2013 dissertation study comparing Robinson Reading System (formerly Sounds First) to Orton-Gillingham found that RRS was as effective as OG for children with language learning disabilities.
Uses progress tracking sheets and assessments, allowing instructors to monitor student growth and adjust instruction as needed.
Aligns with dual-route theory of reading acquisition, reinforcing both the phonological and lexical reading pathways.
Why the Robinson Reading System Stands Out
While many phonics-based programs claim to align with the Science of Reading, the Robinson Reading System offers a unique linguistic approach that goes beyond traditional phonics instruction.
🔹 What Makes RRS Different?
✅ Linguistic Transparency – By first introducing English in a simplified, phonemic form, RRS eliminates the cognitive overload caused by opaque spelling patterns.
✅ Inspired by Pinyin – Just as Pinyin made Mandarin more accessible, the Robinson Code makes English phonemically transparent before transitioning to standard spelling.
✅ Based on Dual-Route Theory – Strengthens phonological decoding first, then supports the development of whole-word recognition skills.
✅ Designed for All Learners – While highly effective for struggling readers, RRS can also accelerate literacy development for all students.
Conclusion: The Robinson Reading System is a Science of Reading Curriculum
The Robinson Reading System fully aligns with the Science of Reading by incorporating:
✔ Explicit, systematic phonics instruction
✔ Phonemic awareness development
✔ Strong decoding and encoding instruction
✔ Fluency-building techniques
✔ Vocabulary and comprehension support
✔ Research-based, data-driven methods
By removing the irregularities of English spelling at the beginning, the Robinson Code gives students the tools they need to decode efficiently, setting them up for long-term reading success.
As more educators and schools seek evidence-based reading programs, the Robinson Reading System stands as a powerful, research-backed solution.
Comentarios