Connection, Purpose, Progress- MCS-BSU Innovation Summit

Applying the Science of Reading through the Brain’s Backdoor, presents Katie Garner’s approach to accelerating phonics mastery by connecting systematic phonics instruction to brain science, memory, and students’ existing knowledge through the use of her "Secret Stories" tool.  She emphasizes using stories, novelty, social-emotional connections, music, movement, and “secrets” to make abstract letter-sound patterns meaningful and memorable. The teaching approach advocates revealing the phonics code early and continuously rather than delaying instruction based on grade-level expectations, while using writing as a “window” into students’ reading development. The system also promotes active decoding over memorizing sight words and encourages teachers to “teach the reader, not the reading” by helping students apply phonics strategies to increasingly complex text. These strategies can support beginning readers, English learners, intervention students, and older struggling readers.