The Science of Reading

How the Brain Processes Written Language

The Science of Reading reveals how reading is processed by the brain:

• The temporal and occipital lobes are responsible for letter and word recognition and language comprehension.
• The parietal and temporal lobes process word analysis and sound-symbol connection.
• The frontal lobe translates written language into speech sounds.

Scarborough’s Rope

Scarborough’s Rope is a visual metaphor for the development of skills over time (represented by the strands of the rope) that lead to skilled reading.

When a student is confronted with a text, there are two processes that make skilled reading possible. The student must understand what they’re reading and combine that understanding with a broader knowledge of language. The first is called word recognition; the second, language comprehension. Each of these competencies is composed of different “strands” that intertwine to form the rope of skilled reading.