The Science of Reading

There is a significant literacy crisis in America today. Twenty-five million children in the U.S. cannot read proficiently, based on an analysis of National Assessment of Education Progress test scores, also called The Nation’s Report Card.

The reasons why are complex but at the root of the problem is that most colleges of education do not teach teachers how to teach reading to children based on what cognitive scientists have proven decades ago is the best way for students to learn. The way most aspiring teachers are taught to teach reading makes it harder for children to learn how to read and develop a love of reading and varies dramatically between states. Then, the curriculum for teaching reading that many school districts choose for their elementary schools use are also not based on the science of reading.

For an overview of this issue, listen to this New York Times podcast. For a more in-depth exploration of this critically important topic, American Public Media journalist Emily Hanford has been investigating what has come to be known as The Reading Wars — the fight between adherents of something called Balance Literacy and The Science of Reading — for years and her reporting is a must for all parents, teachers, and school administrators. school boards, colleges of education, and legislators.

Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong

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Want to know more about the science of reading?

In addition to these resources, here are some relevant articles about cities and states turning to The Science of Reading:

• New York Times: Mississippi Schools Are Offering Lessons for America on Education
• New York Times: The Surprising Obstacle to Overhauling How Children Learn to Read
• New York Times: New York Is Forcing Schools to Change How They Teach Children to Read
• New York Times: ‘Kids Can’t Read’: The Revolt That Is Taking On the Education Establishment
• Washington Post: Cut the politics. Phonics is the best way to teach reading
• Two-Thirds of Kids Struggle to Read, and We Know How to Fix It
• The Hechinger Report: States’ urgent push to overhaul reading instruction
• New York Times: In Memphis, the Phonics Movement Comes to High School
• Education Week: Which States Have Passed ‘Science of Reading’ Laws? What’s in Them?
• The 74: Report: Training of Ohio Teachers in the ‘Science of Reading’ Earns Mixed Grades

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