The landscape of ELL literacy instruction has shifted dramatically in 2026, driven by new state mandates requiring evidence-based phonics curricula and a growing body of research confirming that ...

A third-grader works through a phonics lesson in Washington, Ill. Editor at Large As a teacher in Oakland, Calif., Kareem Weaver helped struggling fourth- and fifth-grade kids learn to read by using a ...

On a chilly Tuesday back in January, my 7-year-old son’s classroom in Minneapolis was humming with reading activities. At their desks, first- and second-graders wrote on worksheets, read independently ...

Why phonics matters: Research shows systematic phonics instruction helps children connect letters with sounds, boosting reading fluency and comprehension. Best learning tools: Apps like Starfall, ...

One of the most influential names in the “science of reading” movement has issued a surprising warning: After years of neglecting to systematically teach students foundational reading skills, he says, ...

To look inside Julie Celestial’s kindergarten classroom in Long Beach is to peer into the future of reading in California. During a recent lesson, 25 kindergartners gazed at the whiteboard, trying to ...