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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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5 min read