A reading program should conform to the science of reading—the body of knowledge of research on reading and reading instruction.
Download the science of reading alignment document! 🖨️
The critcal components of the science of reading outlined below include the five pillars of the National Reading Panel (NICHD, 2000) as well as motivation and the development of knowledge. All are essential to student’s reading success in grades 3-6. The Read Side by Side Reading Program is built on the science!
Most importantly, the program works!
Download the evidence study (2017).
An evidence study conducted in 2017 compared schools using the Read Side by Side Reading Program to schools using a guided reading program.
| Read Side by Side Schools | Guided Reading Schools |
| Mean growth on the MAP test: | Mean growth on the MAP test: |
| + 21 percentile points | + 8 percentile points |
The Read Side by Side Reading Program:
- produced significant gains in reading achievement and changes in motivation (effect size .86 - Cohen's d).
- caused the students’ attitudes toward reading to change. Once exposed to an author, a genre or a topic, students wanted to read more of that author or topic.