AKRON, Ohio-Starting this year, Ohio schools must adopt the science of reading approach to teaching literacy if they haven’t already. This method, which emphasizes phonics and structured literacy, aligns with brain science on how reading is learned, in contrast to the previous balanced literacy or whole language methods. The science of reading focuses on breaking down words and building vocabulary to improve comprehension. In Summit County, many districts have adopted new curricula to meet this mandate, such as Wit & Wisdom and Wonders. Some schools were already aligned with the science of reading and did not need to change. All teachers have undergone state-mandated training on this new approach.
