Productive Struggle

“Productive struggle” may sound enticing…but when it comes to elementary reading, it is anything but supportive…

Productive struggle is the process of allowing learners to work through challenging tasks that are just beyond their current skill level, with guidance but not immediate answers. 

It helps them develop:

• Problem-solving skills

• Persistence

• Deeper understanding of the material

BUT…. 

I recently was listening to a podcast about education and it talked about how while yes, productive struggle has it's benefits - when it comes to learning - especially at the elementary level - productive struggle is actually NOT beneficial. 

In elementary school, especially when it comes to phonics instruction, productive struggle should NOT be prioritized. 

In high school…

Or college…

Research shows the benefits of productive struggle…but when it comes to children learning to read, productive struggle is anything but productive. 

Children need direct, explicit instruction. 

Children need structure and routine. 

When learning to read, we are rewiring children's brains. 

Our brains ARE wired for speaking, but NOT for reading. 

So in order for our children to be successful, we must prioritize direct, systematic, explicit instruction. 

We must give children explicit instruction skill-by-skill with lots of practice and consistency. 

If you've been around for a while you've probably heard me say how strongly I believe in the power of 2 most important things:

1. Consistency 

2. Repetition 

Nearly all children—about 95–97%—are capable of learning to read when they receive effective, evidence-based instruction (especially instruction grounded in the science of reading).

…which is exactly what we root our instruction in here at Next Step Education. 

Science ✅ 

Not guessing ❌

Not memorizing ❌ 

Research that is proven effective - over decades ✅ 

About 95% of children can learn to read proficiently with systematic, explicit teaching in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

So, while reading ability may seem to vary widely, the research shows that with the right methods and early support, almost every child is capable of becoming a skilled reader.

And that is a mission I believe in. 

Science-based instruction to support all children in becoming skilled readers! 

Happy reading!

Ms. Schelzi