Literacy is a critical topic of discussion in contemporary educational circles. While reading has long been recognized as a cornerstone of learning, students in the United States public school system do not always have equal access to the tools necessary for attaining literacy. There are also significant inequities regarding who can access robust literacy education. As EdTrust points out: “There is currently a literacy crisis happening in the U.S., one that disproportionately affects students of color, and that cannot be ignored.”
Leaders in education are increasingly answering the call and taking action to address this problem. For those professionals who want to contribute to this vital cause, the Arkansas State University (A-State) online Master of Science (M.S.) in Education in Reading program offers a comprehensive approach to helping teachers improve reading comprehension rates in public schools. With its specific focus on the skills and techniques of teaching reading, A-State’s program produces graduates who can improve their students’ reading comprehension and be exemplars of literacy leadership within their schools and districts.
What Are Literacy Rates?
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, a literacy rate is defined as “the percentage of the population of a given age group that can read and write.” In other words, it measures how well people can understand written language. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics states that a high literacy rate “suggests the existence of an effective primary education system and/or literacy programmes that have enabled a large proportion of the population to acquire the ability of using the written word.” On the other hand, low literacy rates indicate that a country’s education system is not teaching students to read and write effectively.
Beyond this, literacy is also foundational for attaining both a robust education and a stable, productive life in modern society. According to the Policy Circle: “Literacy impacts nearly every aspect of daily life, including pursuing a career, attaining financial independence, and navigating healthcare. Literacy influences how people understand the world and dictates how they navigate their life choices.” Thus, strong literacy education programs can help students maximize their potential later in life.
What Is Reading Comprehension?
Reading comprehension is an important component of literacy. A student with good reading comprehension can do more than identify particular words in a passage or book.
As per Reading Rockets, students with reading comprehension “understand and interpret what they read” and “construct meaning from text.” This is crucial to literacy education because students who engage with print media in this way are more likely to enjoy reading, which, in turn, encourages them to continue reading. “This self-reinforcing cycle of knowledge, satisfaction, and motivation is what we all want for our students,” states Reading Rockets.
How to Improve Reading Comprehension
According to the Policy Circle, research from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (a congressionally mandated project of the U.S. Department of Education) found that less than 30% of students in large city public schools are reading at or above grade level. These students often come from marginalized backgrounds, and improving their reading comprehension is a critically important task for educators. Fortunately, there are tools available.
EdTrust cites “overwhelming evidence that nearly all children can learn to read” and points out that: “There are five widely accepted components that are essential to reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.” These research-backed elements of reading instruction can be implemented more widely in schools. In addition, according to Ed Trust, “When students are given access to texts with rich, diverse characters and cultures, seeing people like themselves fully represented in school materials, they will become more engaged readers.”
Can You Get an Education Degree Online?
Few issues in education are more consequential than the need to improve literacy rates among public school students. EdTrust notes: “Literacy is one of the major civil rights issues of our time, and our children’s future — and our nation’s democracy — depends on us addressing it now.”
If you want to make a real difference in this increasingly important area of education, consider A-State’s online M.S. in Education in Reading program gives graduates the diagnostic tools, strategies and methods to help students with reading instruction from kindergarten all the way through adolescence. Courses such as Literacy for Diverse Learners examine literacy issues within the context of multicultural education and culturally responsive pedagogy, thus preparing educators to assist their most marginalized students.
Learn more about A-State’s online M.S. in Education in Reading program.