When learning to read, were you encouraged to skip unfamiliar words, rely on pictures, or use context clues to guess meaning? Your teacher may have been using the “three-cueing” method, an early literacy instruction strategy which emphasizes meaning, syntax and visual cues over decoding. A 2019 EdWeek survey found that 75 percent of K–2 special education teachers used this approach. But declining literacy scores have pushed three-cueing out of favor among educators and lawmakers across the country. A popular replacement is the evidence-based “science of reading,” which emphasizes phonics and word decoding. So far, 17 states have established some prohibition on three-cueing. As the science of reading gains momentum, states are poised to advance “SoR” legislation and reshape how future educators are trained.
