Insights That Strengthen Literacy Instruction
From expert tips and implementation guides to interviews with educators and updates on the Science of Reading, our blog is here to inspire and inform.
All Articles
How to Evaluate Whether a Literacy Program Is Truly Evidence-Based
Six questions every curriculum committee should ask before signing a contract, because "evidence-based" is a starting point for evaluation, not the end of it.
July 20, 20267 min read
What Does ESSA Tier III Evidence Actually Require?
The precise bar for "Promising" evidence, how correlational studies differ from quasi-experimental and experimental ones, and what to check before you trust a vendor's Tier III claim.
July 17, 20267 min read
ESSA Evidence Tiers Explained: What Tier 1, 2, and 3 Mean for Your Curriculum Purchase
A plain-language procurement guide to ESSA's four evidence tiers, which ones your funding requires, and how to read a vendor's evidence claims before you buy.
July 16, 20267 min read
What Is Structured Literacy? Definition, Components, and Why It Works
The International Dyslexia Association's framework for teaching reading, what it includes, how it differs from typical instruction, and why the research supports it.
July 15, 20268 min read
Science of Reading vs. Whole Language: Why This Debate Still Matters in 2026
The research has largely settled the question, yet the disagreement still surfaces in board meetings and parent emails. Here is the real difference, and how to explain it.
July 2, 20267 min read
Common Misconceptions About the Science of Reading (and the Truth Behind Them)
The same objections to the science of reading come up again and again, from teachers and parents alike. Here are the most common misconceptions, and what the research actually says about each.
July 1, 20267 min read
What Science of Reading Professional Development Should Include
Effective science of reading professional development builds knowledge, is sustained over time, includes classroom coaching, and measures whether teaching changes. A checklist for the leaders who evaluate and fund it.
July 1, 20268 min read
The Simple View of Reading, Explained for K–3 Teachers
Reading comprehension is decoding times language comprehension. What that equation means for the readers in your room, and what to do when one side breaks down.
June 30, 20267 min read
How to Build a Science of Reading School Culture in 5 Steps
Why whole-staff alignment beats training teachers one at a time, and the five moves that turn science-of-reading knowledge into a school-wide practice.
June 30, 20266 min read
Balanced Literacy vs. the Science of Reading: A Clear Guide for Teachers
What the two approaches actually disagree about, what they quietly agree on, and what changes (and what doesn't) when you make the shift.
June 19, 20267 min read
Scarborough's Reading Rope: The Model Every Literacy Leader Needs to Understand
A plain explainer of the rope metaphor: the eight strands of skilled reading, and what weaving them together means for K–3 instruction.
June 19, 20267 min read
Why the Science of Reading Hasn't Reached Every Classroom (and What Schools Can Do About It)
The research has been settled for years and the laws are on the books, yet most classrooms haven't changed. The reason is professional development, and so is the fix.
June 19, 20268 min read
Don't miss new insights
Sign up for occasional updates and featured literacy resources.