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.
Your Library Card Is the One of Most Underused Tool in a Child's Reading Life
The library card in your wallet may be worth more than you realize. Here’s what the research says about libraries, summer reading loss, and early literacy, plus four simple ways to make the library part of your family’s routine.
When Reading and Writing Are Both Hard: Understanding Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Why They So Often Appear Together
A child who can tell you a detailed story out loud but produces three halting, misspelled sentences on paper isn’t holding back — their brain is working overtime just to get the words down. Here’s why dyslexia and dysgraphia so often travel together, and what actually helps.
Every Teacher Is a Reading Teacher: The State of Reading in Middle and High School
A third of 8th graders can't read at a basic level, and it started before COVID. Here's why secondary teachers weren't trained to catch it — and four research-backed practices any content-area teacher can use starting Monday.
Books for Hispanic Heritage Month: Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors for Every Reader in Your House
Six picture books and four chapter books celebrating Hispanic and Latino voices — several Pura Belpré winners among them — for every reader in your house this Hispanic Heritage Month.
Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors: Why Representation in Books Matters for Every Child
A mirror reflects. A window reveals. A sliding glass door invites you in. Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop's 1990 framework explains why the books a child reads say who belongs — and what you can do about it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Midweek Mini: Are Audiobooks Real Reading? What the Research Says About Teenagers and Audiobooks
Audiobooks let struggling readers access grade-level books they couldn't reach in print alone—but does that count as reading? The research says it's not either/or.
How Memory Works — And Why It Matters for Reading
Most of us think of memory like a filing cabinet — information goes in, you pull it back out. New neuroscience says otherwise. Here's what's actually happening in the brain when a child learns to read, and why background knowledge is doing more work than you think.