From Blocks to Blueprints: Using the Science of Learning to Strengthen Science of Reading Instruction

Abstract

Teachers bring thoughtful, evidence-based elements into literacy lessons, and many plans capture that thinking in detail. Blocks to Blueprints is a streamlined 10–12-minute planning routine that helps teachers convert lesson blocks (instructional segments) into a usable one-page blueprint (a tight plan teachers can teach from and revise). The routine draws on Science of Learning principles—reducing extraneous cognitive load, using worked examples, and embedding retrieval practice—while protecting Science of Reading essentials such as explicit, systematic instruction and cumulative review. Teachers map a lesson into five non-negotiable instructional blocks, then translate each block into brief teacher language, observable student actions, and a quick evidence check. The result is a plan that is easier to teach and easier to improve. This article includes a printable one-page template, an example for grades 1–2, and a brief adaptation for grades 3–5 to demonstrate how the approach can transfer across grade levels.