Media

Selections from the extensive coverage of reading instruction

Why aren't kids being taught to read?

Emily Hanford's 2018 media report that started a national movement of questioning how students are taught to read. "Scientific research has shown how children learn to read and how they should be taught. But many educators don't know the science and, in some cases, actively resist it. As a result, millions of kids are being set up to fail."

Many kids struggle with reading – and children of color are far less likely to get the help they need

Emily Hanford, from 2020: "A false assumption about what it takes to be a skilled reader has created deep inequalities among U.S. children, putting many on a difficult path in life."

How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers

Emily Hanford: For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't know there's anything wrong with it.

Connecting the Science of Reading and Educational Practices

Prof. Marc Siedenberg: Some Reliable Resources about the Science and Its Connection to Reading. Sidenberg is a leading cognitive science researcher on how reading is done at a brain pathway level. His book "Reading at the Speed of Sight"

States to Schools: Teach Reading the Right Way

EdWeek: States are passing new laws that require teachers to master reading instruction that’s solidly grounded in research.

What the Science Says About How Kids Learn to Read

EdWeek: The debate on how to teach early reading has raged for a century. But for the last few decades, the cognitive science has been clear: Teaching young kids how to crack the code—teaching systematic phonics—is the most reliable way to make sure that they learn how to read words.

Improving Reading Isn't Just a Teaching Shift. It's a Culture Shift

EdWeek: Flawed methods for teaching reading are passed down through cherished mentors, popular literacy programs, and respected professional groups.

The Most Popular Reading Programs Aren't Backed by Science

EdWeek: An analysis of the five most-used programs for early reading shows that they often diverge from evidence-based practices.

How Do Kids Learn to Read? What the Science Says

EdWeek: Good (long) summary of reading research from an educator's perspective

Parental Pressure Mounts for More Phonics, Less Guessing in Teaching Reading

Next Ed: In the end, parental demand for effective reading instruction may be the most potent long-term lever for change.