The Art and Science of Joyful Reading in the Junior Grades: The Five Pillars in Practice

As readers grow, so does the complexity of the texts and the opportunity to deepen both skill and joy. In this session, we explore how structured literacy in the junior grades continues to build on the five pillars of the Science of Reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension while also supporting student identity, engagement, and ownership.

Participants will explore strategies that:

• Support older readers in strengthening foundational skills without stigma
• Build academic vocabulary and comprehension through purposeful, rich texts
• Foster a culture of belonging, curiosity, and self-directed reading

Rooted in equity and high expectations, this session shows how structured literacy can be both rigorous and responsive helping all students see themselves as joyful, lifelong readers, ready to tackle the texts and ideas of tomorrow.