At Triple Thread Learning we are more than tutors when it comes to helping students who struggle with their literacy skills, We are learning difficulty specialists that target our intervention to address specific reading difficulties at their core. In effect, we rewire the brain to enable it to work more efficiently when developing the skills for reading. The approach our educator therapists use is structured literacy. We are often asked exactly what is the structured literacy approach. So this post is all about explaining what it is we do and what sets us apart from general tutoring.
While tutoring generally provides support to students in areas they find difficult, it often doesn’t address the root cause of their struggles. Tutoring typically focuses on content reinforcement rather than the underlying skill development that struggling readers need. Structured literacy, on the other hand, is an approach that is specifically designed to address reading difficulties—particularly for students with learning differences like dyslexia. It is a research-based approach that is grounded in the science of reading. Decades of research have shown that students who struggle with reading often need highly structured, multi-sensory instruction that goes beyond simple reading practice. Structured literacy uses evidence-based techniques that address reading at the most fundamental level.
Students with dyslexia or other language-based learning disabilities require direct and explicit instruction that explicitly teaches the rules and patterns of language. Structured literacy provides this by focusing on how letters and sounds work together. Instruction is clear helping students understand the “what,” “how,” and “why” of language. It integrates listening, speaking, reading, and writing and emphasizes the structure of language across the speech sound system (phonology), the writing syste (orthography), the structure of sentences (syntax), the meaningful parts of words (morphology), the relationships among words (semantics), and the organization of spoken and written discourse.
The approach is systematic—each lesson builds on the previous one. With structured literacy, lessons build on each other in a logical sequence, ensuring consistent reinforcement and mastery of concepts. Each new concept is built on a solid foundation, starting with basic language concepts and building up to more complex concepts ensuring students have truly mastered each step before moving forward.
Structured literacy isn’t just about following a script. It involves ongoing assessments and adjustments to instruction based on the student’s progress. This diagnostic aspect allows for interventions to be tailored to the unique needs of each learner, making it much more effective for those with persistent reading challenges. It supports working memory and processing skills, which are crucial for reading and spelling. As a result, the success the student experiences from the positive learning experiences reduces frustration and anxiety often associated with reading difficulties.
In essence, structured literacy isn’t just tutoring—it’s a focused treatment that teaches students how to read by addressing the root causes of their struggles, giving them the foundational skills they need for long-term success.
References
The International Dyslexia Association https://app.box.com/s/mvuvhel6qaj8tghvu1nl75i0ndnlp0yz
The International Dyslexia Association https://dyslexiaida.org/structured-literacy-effective-instruction-for-students-with-dyslexia-and-related-reading-difficulties/
The Orton Gillingham Academy
https://www.ortonacademy.org/resources/og-approach-principles-2/
