Speech to Print vs. Print to Speech: What Parents Need to Know
If you’re diving into the Science of Reading or implementing structured literacy principles in your homeschool, you’ve likely come across terms like “speech to print” and “print to speech.” These concepts are foundational to effective reading and writing instruction, but understanding the difference between them—and why one is favored over the other—can make a significant impact on how you teach your child.
What Are Speech to Print and Print to Speech?
At their core, these terms describe two different approaches to literacy instruction:
Speech to Print: This method starts with the sounds of language (phonemes) and teaches students how those sounds are represented in written form (graphemes). Instruction focuses on phonemic awareness, phonics, and connecting spoken language to written text.
Print to Speech: This approach starts with the visual representation of language (letters and words) and focuses on teaching students how to decode or pronounce the text they see. It places more emphasis on recognizing whole words and learning their meanings.
While both play a role in reading development, structured literacy—rooted in the Science of Reading—prioritizes speech to print for a reason.
Why Speech to Print?
Renowned experts in literacy education, such as Dr. Louisa Moats and Dr. Timothy Shanahan, emphasize the importance of teaching reading through a speech-to-print approach. This method aligns with how the brain learns to read and has been proven to be more effective for most students, particularly those who struggle with reading or have dyslexia.
The Benefits of Speech to Print
Focuses on Foundational Skills: Speech-to-print instruction begins with phonemic awareness, helping children identify and manipulate the sounds in spoken words before connecting them to written symbols. This builds a solid foundation for reading and writing.
Supports Accurate Decoding and Spelling: By emphasizing the relationship between sounds and letters, children learn to decode unfamiliar words and spell them more accurately.
Reflects How the Brain Processes Language: Research in neuroscience shows that reading is not a natural skill but one that must be taught. The brain naturally processes spoken language, so teaching children to connect speech to print leverages this innate ability.
Addresses the Needs of Struggling Readers: Many children who struggle with reading do so because they lack a clear understanding of the relationship between sounds and letters. A speech-to-print approach directly addresses this gap.
Dr. Louisa Moats, a leading voice in structured literacy, emphasizes this in her seminal work, Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers. She explains that teaching the structure of language—starting with sounds and moving to written symbols—is critical for reading success.
What About Print to Speech?
While print-to-speech approaches may work for some children, they can often leave struggling readers behind. This method tends to prioritize whole-word recognition or memorization, which can lead to reliance on guessing or visual cues rather than developing a true understanding of how language works.
Dr. Timothy Shanahan warns against this in his blog, where he discusses the limitations of strategies like teaching sight words in isolation or focusing too heavily on pictures or context clues for decoding. He argues that such methods do not equip children with the skills they need to tackle new or unfamiliar words independently.
How to Apply Speech to Print in Your Homeschool
Start with Phonemic Awareness: Before introducing letters, help your child identify and manipulate the individual sounds in words. For example, play games where they blend, segment, or substitute sounds in spoken words.
Teach Systematic Phonics: Once your child understands sounds, teach them how those sounds are represented by letters or letter combinations. Follow a systematic, explicit sequence so they can build their knowledge step by step. Not sure where to start? Check out my post on choosing a reading curriculum.
Incorporate Spelling Instruction: Spelling and reading are two sides of the same coin. Use phoneme-grapheme mapping activities to help your child connect sounds to written symbols, reinforcing both skills simultaneously. Check out my Spelling Guide for more.
Use Decodable Texts: When your child starts reading, provide books that align with the phonics patterns they’ve learned. Decodable texts allow them to practice applying their knowledge rather than relying on guessing.
Avoid Guessing Strategies: Encourage your child to use their phonics knowledge to decode words rather than relying on pictures, context clues, or memorization.
The Bottom Line
The Science of Reading has shown us that effective literacy instruction begins with speech to print. By teaching your child how spoken language connects to written symbols, you’re giving them the tools they need to become confident, independent readers and writers.
As Dr. Moats reminds us, “Reading instruction is most effective when it reflects the structure of the language and how the brain learns to process print.” By embracing a speech-to-print approach in your homeschool, you’re laying a strong foundation for your child’s lifelong literacy success.
