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The Big Picture: Reading Research and Teacher Learning

How are we doing with teaching children to read and write? Why do so many children struggle? What can we learn from research to improve classroom instruction? This section offers some background and context about the big picture.

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two teachers in a professional development session on teaching reading with English learners

Reading Research Overview

Literacy is an incredibly well-studied field. Here's an overview of what we've learned over decades of research. 

Explore the Research
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Timely Talks with Experts

These in-depth videos explore critical topics in literacy instruction. Watch nationally recognized experts explain the science behind how children learn to read and offer advice for applying it in the classroom.

See the Videos
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Key Instructional Concepts

What is "structured literacy"? What is "orthographic mapping"? Learn about key concepts and terms related to research-based reading and writing instruction.

Learn More

Why It Matters

Reading Universe adviser Kareem Weaver believes that "literacy is the fundamental civil right of our time." He explains why every child needs explicit teaching when it comes to learning to read.

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10 Maxims: What We've Learned So Far About How Children Learn to Read

Over the last 50 years, there's been a vast outpouring of research about reading development. Dr. G. Reid Lyon, a research scientist and neuropsychologist who oversaw the reading research program at the National Institutes of Health, distills the most essential findings into 10 maxims all teachers should know.

Read the Maxims

Reading Universe is made possible by generous support from
Jim & Donna Barksdale, the AFT, the Emily Hall Tremaine
Foundation
, and three anonymous donors.

AFT Education Healthcare Public Services