You’ve done the trainings. You believe in the Science of Reading. But… some of those old routines still feel comfortable! Letting go of familiar practices can be tough, but these easy swaps will make a big difference for your students. The best part? These alternatives aren’t just research-based—they’re also simple, practical, and easy to implement with the right resources.
1. Daily 5 Stations Swap: Make Centers More Meaningful
❌ Old Routine: Students rotate through centers that aren’t always connected to the current skill focus. Independent reading, even for struggling readers, is the norm.
✅ SOR-Friendly Swap: If students aren’t fluent yet, partner reading is more effective than silent reading. Centers should directly reinforce phonics, decoding, and comprehension skills taught in whole group.
Easy-to-Use AA Resources:
✔ Filter by skill! Use reading passages, phonics centers, and writing activities that align with your whole group instruction.
✔ Try Roll & Write, Fold-n-Decodes, and Word Building Mats & Cards for hands-on phonics practice.
2. Guided Reading Swap: Focus on Grade-Level Texts & Skills
❌ Old Routine: Small groups are focused on “just-right” leveled readers, meaning students mostly read texts at their current independent level.
✅ SOR-Friendly Swap: Small group time should include both skill work and supported reading of grade-level text (using strategies like choral reading, echo reading, and partner reading).
Easy-to-Use AA Resources:
✔ Literacy Intervention Kit for targeted skill work.
✔ Decodable Passages & Reading Passages that support phonics-based instruction.
3. Rainbow Writing Swap: Map Sounds, Not Just Letters
❌ Old Routine: Students write words in different colors, focusing only on copying letters.
✅ SOR-Friendly Swap: Sound-spelling mapping (writing by sounds rather than just letter names) helps students connect phonemes to graphemes, making spelling meaningful.
Easy-to-Use AA Resources:
✔ Seasonal Sound-Spelling Mapping Pages to practice this in a fun, engaging way.
4. Writers’ Workshop Swap: Teach Writing Explicitly & Embed Grammar
❌ Old Routine: Writing time is mostly independent, with minimal explicit instruction on grammar and sentence structure.
✅ SOR-Friendly Swap:
- Use a gradual release model (I do, we do, you do) so students feel supported.
- Embed grammar naturally into writing instruction.
- Teach self-regulation strategies so students can manage their writing process more independently.
Easy-to-Use AA Resources:
✔ Lucky to Learn Writing for structured, engaging lessons.
5. Dictionary Definitions Swap: Teach Words Deeply
❌ Old Routine: Students memorize dictionary definitions without understanding how words work.
✅ SOR-Friendly Swap: Teach the phonology, orthography, syntax, and morphology of words instead. Give real-life examples and have students use new words in meaningful ways.
Easy-to-Use AA Resources:
✔ Vocabulary Activities Pack, Morphology Wall, and Multisyllable Word Book for hands-on, engaging vocabulary learning.
6. Sight Words Swap: Teach High-Frequency Words the Right Way
❌ Old Routine: Students memorize sight words with flashcards, without understanding the phonics behind them.
✅ SOR-Friendly Swap: Use the Heart Words Routine—help students analyze which parts of the word are regular and which parts they need to memorize. Have them read and write the words in context.
Easy-to-Use AA Resources:
✔ Heart Words Pack for systematic, effective high-frequency word practice.
Small Changes, Big Impact
Change is hard, but these simple swaps will make a huge difference in how your students learn to read and write. You don’t have to do everything at once—start small and build from there!
With the right tools and resources, making these shifts can be easy and stress-free.
Get unlimited access to Science of Reading resources with an All Access membership! Everything you need for these swaps is ready for you—no extra planning required.
