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Spotlight on the Science of Reading 2021

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The Education Week Spotlight on the Science of Reading is a collection of articles hand-picked by our editors for their insights on where the learning gaps are for those learning to read; if teachers are properly prepared to tackle such a task; and the ways misconceptions are passed down.

You get the articles below in a downloadable PDF.

Image of a student reading in the library.
Allison Shelley for American Education: Images of Teachers and Students in Action
Reading & Literacy Is the Bottom Falling Out for Readers Who Struggle the Most?
A growing proportion of 4th and 8th graders read at the lowest level on national tests. Experts are working to understand why.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 15, 2021
5 min read
Image shows two children ages 5 to 7 years old and a teacher, an African-American woman, holding a digital tablet up, showing it to the girl sitting next to her. They are all wearing masks, back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic, trying to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
E+/Getty
Reading & Literacy Most States Fail to Measure Teachers' Knowledge of the 'Science of Reading,' Report Says
The majority of states don’t evaluate whether prospective teachers know how to teach reading effectively, a new analysis finds.
Sarah Schwartz, March 23, 2021
6 min read
Image of a very young reader in the library.
CHUYN/iStock/Getty
Reading & Literacy 'Decodable' Books: Boring, Useful, or Both?
These sound-it-out books designed for young readers aren’t always popular with teachers. But experts say they’re an important tool.
Sarah Schwartz, March 13, 2020
9 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Getty
Reading & Literacy Improving Reading Isn't Just a Teaching Shift. It's a Culture Shift
Flawed methods for teaching reading are passed down through cherished mentors, popular literacy programs, and respected professional groups.
Stephen Sawchuk, December 3, 2019
14 min read
 Braydan Finnerty, 2nd grade, chooses letter magnets off the board while doing a spelling exercise in front of the rest of the class at Beverly Gardens Elementary in Dayton, Ohio.
Second grader Braydan Finnerty, chooses letter magnets while doing a spelling exercise in front of his class at Beverly Gardens Elementary in Dayton, Ohio.
Graeme Sloan/Education Week
Reading & Literacy Students' Reading Losses Could Strain Schools' Capacity to Help Them Catch Up
Phonemic awareness, letter sounds, and other early reading skills took a big hit during the pandemic, a new study finds.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 15, 2020
4 min read
Tiny boy and girl stand on wide road in front keyhole entrance in book to narrower way
Tetiana5/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Reading & Literacy Opinion Science of Reading Advocates Have a Messaging Problem
Invoking science isn’t all it takes to be credible, especially on a debate as charged as literacy education, writes Claude Goldenberg.
Claude Goldenberg, May 3, 2021
5 min read
Special Report v39 15 GetReadingRight cover
Getty
Reading & Literacy Opinion Why Doesn't Every Teacher Know the Research on Reading Instruction?
Literacy expert Susan Pimentel shares three evidence-based practices for how educators can boost reading proficiency.
Susan Pimentel, October 26, 2018
5 min read