The COVID-19 pandemic threw every part of the education system into tumult, and reading and literacy skills were no exception to that effect. Across the United States, states recorded a measurable drop in reading and literacy levels, which were already lagging pre-pandemic.
Reading and literacy skills are foundational to the essence of the learning process, as they measure a student’s ability to comprehend information and express their own response. Unfortunately, according to the OKC Metro Literacy Coalition 2020 Literacy Status Report, one in six children who are not at a proficient reading level by fourth grade do not graduate high school on time. Given the importance of a literate population, the continued decline among students in their ability to read and write effectively is a major cause for concern.
In Oklahoma, the downward trend has been remarkable. The state faces its own set of challenges in working to improve reading and literacy levels among children. As noted, the urgency of falling behind in reading and literacy begins at an early age, and Oklahoma children of all ages have scored at rates below the national average in terms of proficiency in those areas on each of the last two state surveys since 2007.
According to the report, Oklahoma students between grades 5 and 12 have, on average, the eighth-worst reading and literacy proficiency rates in the United States. The report notes that these below-average rates result from negative environmental factors such as “economic hardship, experiences undermining children’s health, and lack of high-quality education for all students, including English Language Learners.”
New Strategies for Overcoming Learning Loss
Instilling strong reading and literacy skills is a difficult challenge, to begin with, but remedial work to catch students up is extremely tricky. Moreover, a dearth of these skills can discourage children from learning and engaging enough to make up for lost time.
Reading and literacy are critical skills for everyday life, but they can open more opportunities, particularly regarding one’s profession. The Oklahoma State Department of Education notes that literacy is crucial to any number of critical-thinking and analysis skills such as those in speaking and listening; vocabulary; grammar and rhetoric; research and more. That’s why it’s so important for Oklahoma teachers to find ways to help their students find the achievement in reading that they need.
What are some strategies that teachers can utilize? Last year, NPR’s StateImpact publication wrote that in parts of Oklahoma, educators introduced baseline assessments for students returning to school in order to measure how much learning loss those students experienced during the pandemic. These baseline tests can be beneficial even outside of the pandemic context. Allowing students to express their knowledge without the stress of being graded helps educators get a more accurate idea of their progress. Plus, the different responses show teachers their students’ different strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to better tailor lesson plans and teaching strategies.
The Oklahoma state literacy report suggests implementing or maintaining several public services to help increase reading and literacy rates. For instance, the report offers free educational opportunities for parents, including reading and speaking classes. The report also suggests supporting and funding childcare for adult classes. By maintaining a more holistic learning environment that extends learning into the home, students are better able to develop literacy skills.
With so many timely issues in their field, educators deserve to be well-equipped to address them. A Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction – Reading from Southeastern Oklahoma State University fits the bill, exposing students to advanced knowledge in phonics, fluency and expression. Graduates will be prepared to lead classroom lessons and discussions among all kinds of English learners or students with literacy needs and help spearhead school-wide literacy programs. This online program will prepare graduates to meet the challenges of reading and literacy rates not just in Oklahoma but also throughout the United States.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction – Reading program.