Science of Reading and Learning Science
Understanding how children learn changes everything. The Science of Reading and broader learning science give us a research-based picture of how the brain develops, how children acquire skills, why some students struggle, and what instructional approaches make the biggest difference. Explore our articles to dig into the evidence.
Midweek Mini: What to Read This Fall — A Book List for Every Reader in Your House
Picture books, chapter books, and a few classics worth reading together — twelve fall favorites for every reader in your house, from preschool through middle grade.
Literacy for People, the Planet, and Prosperity: What National Literacy Month Is Really About
This isn't a test score or a policy goal — it's a force in a human life. A reflection on what literacy actually builds, and five simple things you can do this month to act on it.
Should You Correct Every Mistake When Your Child Reads Aloud?
Your child stumbles on a word — do you jump in or wait? The research says the answer depends on the type of error, and jumping in too fast can undermine the very skill you're trying to build.
How to Build a Reading Life — Not Just Reading Skills
Learning to read and becoming a reader aren't the same thing. Here's what actually builds reading identity — the right book, being seen as a reader, and real choice — for kids at home and in the classroom.
Midweek Mini: Sleep and Learning: Why Rest Is Part of Learning
Sleep isn't just rest—it's when the brain locks in new learning. Learn what the research says and three habits that support it at home.
How to Give Good Feedback And What the Research Actually Says
"Great job" feels like feedback. It isn't. Here's what decades of research say actually helps a learner improve—and the specific language shift that makes it work, for teachers and parents alike.
What the Research Says to Prioritize: A Reading Teacher’s Guide to the New Year
Not a to-do list — a menu for reflection. Ten research-backed questions worth sitting with as the year begins, each one pointing to a small shift that can make a real difference.
Behind the Classroom Door: A Parent’s Guide to Reading Instruction, Pre-K–5
Reading instruction happens behind a classroom door, in a language most families were never taught. Here's what to expect at every grade, what to ask, and when to advocate — all in one place.
Midweek Mini: Back to School Is Coming. Here’s What to Ask Your Child’s Teacher About Reading
You don't need a formal meeting to ask the questions that matter most. Here are three simple, back-to-school questions that open the door to real communication about your child's reading.
How to Embed Reading Instruction in Content Area Teaching
Reading comprehension isn't a separate skill from science and social studies—it depends on them. Here's what happens when you stop treating content and literacy as competitors.
Midweek Mini: How to Make Your Orientation Meeting Count
You get a few minutes with each family at orientation. Here's how to make it count—what families need to hear from you, and what you need to hear from them.
Debunking Learning Styles: What the Research Actually Says
Nearly 9 in 10 teachers believe in learning styles. The research says the evidence isn't there. Here's what actually predicts how well a child learns—and why the label can become a ceiling.
Midweek Mini: Five Questions to Ask at Your First Meeting With Your Child’s Teacher
You get maybe five minutes with your child's new teacher. Here are the five questions that make them count—the ones that open real communication, not just small talk.
How Literature Teaches Empathy — And Why That Matters
A book that broke your heart as a kid wasn't just a story—it was practice feeling what someone else feels. Here's what the research says about fiction, empathy, and why talking about the book matters as much as reading it.
Midweek Mini: When Should a Parent Ask for a Reading Evaluation?
You don't need to wait for the school to suggest it. Here's how to request a reading evaluation, what your rights are under federal law, and what the results will—and won't—tell you.
Why Your Child’s Brain Gets Full: Working Memory, Cognitive Load, and What It Means for Learning
That "brain just stopped" feeling has a name. Here's what working memory and cognitive load theory say about why kids hit a wall—and how to keep their RAM free for actual learning.
Midweek Mini: Is Silent Reading a Good Tool? What the Research Actually Says
Silent reading time has been a classroom staple for decades. But does it actually work? The research says it depends entirely on one thing: structure.
The Value of Teaching Morphology—And Why It Changes Everything About Vocabulary
A child doesn't need to memorize "unbelievable"—they need to spot un-, believe, and -able. Here's why teaching word parts changes vocabulary and decoding for older readers.
Midweek Mini: Pre-K Kids and Screens: When “Reading” Means Swiping
Some preschoolers are trying to swipe at book pages the way they'd swipe a screen. Here's what that says about print awareness—and small habits that build it back in.
Not All Practice Is Created Equal: Retrieval Practice, Spaced Practice, and Interleaving Explained
Rereading and highlighting feel productive—but they're some of the least effective ways to learn. Here are the three research-backed strategies that actually make memory stick.