Ep. 149: Hot Topic Series: Clarifying Differences Between Reading Skills and Reading Strategies

Our conversation today illuminates a hot topic in reading - skills and strategies. What’s the difference? Peter Afflerbach, researcher and professor, shares in the podcast that he and his colleagues surveyed educators and  “ten people would give us ten different answers. They were all kind of related, but all different.” Peter explains that with practice, strategies require less deliberate attention. When strategies become effortless and automatic, the reading strategy has become a reading skill. This is bound to change based on complexity of text and topic, so we learn that knowledge plays a critical role in strategy use and comprehension, too. ResourcesClarifying Differences Between Reading Skills and Reading Strategies, The Reading Teacher Teaching Readers (Not Reading): Moving Beyond Skills and Strategies to Reader-Focused Instruction by Peter AfflerbachShedding Light on Reading Skills and Strategies | Shanahan on Literacy  Comprehension Skills or Strategies | What’s the difference and does it matter? Connect with usFacebook and join our Facebook Group Twitter Instagram Visit our website to stay connected with Melissa and Lori! Helping teachers learn about science of reading, knowledge building, and high quality curriculum. Looking for more literacy support and resources? Explore all of our podcast episodes, free listening guides, and classroom tools at literacypodcast.com.Interested in bringing Melissa & Lori Love Literacy to your school or event? Email us at [email protected].