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We have some more upcoming events this month discussing progress monitoring. One is intended for parents and one for teachers. All are welcome!

https://progressmonitoringparents.eventbrite.com/ https://ProgressMonitoringTeachers.eventbrite.com

https://ProgressMonitoringTeachers.eventbrite.com

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“When you tell me that you’re choosing not to follow the research. You’re choosing not to follow the science. The graduate schools are choosing it, the school systems are choosing it, individual teachers are choosing it. And then when it doesn’t work out and the kids can’t read, you come back and blame them. That is a violation of kids’ civil rights! That’s where we draw the line.” (48:25)

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“Frederick Douglas said, ‘Once you learn to read, you will forever be free.’ 130 years later, we have Maya Angelou saying that, ‘the elimination of illiteracy is as important to our history as the end of slavery.’

So, what that tells me is that this is not a new fight. This has been going on for generations. And then we look at it sometimes and say, ‘oh, it’s just a small…No. this isn’t a niche thing, it’s no small thing. This is the main thing. This is social justice.” (1:00)

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"We are born equal but we don't stay equal"

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• What are some of your feelings about the film and the issues presented in the film?

• Now that we know more, how can we be better?

• What other questions do you have and do you feel like you know where to seek answers for them?

• What is one thing you can do to ensure all children can access high quality and effective instruction in reading and writing?

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• In the film, we see examples of students receiving instruction in Balanced Literacy and Structured Reading. Have you ever encountered either approach? Where did you encounter it—in the classroom or at home?

•Think back to when you learned how to read. Do you recall what kinds of instruction you received to learn how to read?

• "When we know better, we do better.” Though there are different approaches to literacy instruction, how do you think students should be taught how to read? As a parent, how do you influence what approach is used in the classroom and home? As a teacher, how can you inform your practice in instruction?

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•Before watching the film, have you heard about the literacy crisis? If so, how did you learn about it?

•Is this an issue you discuss with other parents, family members or even raised with school administration or local elected officials?

•How do you think parents, teachers, and school administrators work together to begin to address the literacy crisis locally or nationally?

•What is happening in your community around using evidence-based reading instruction?

•Students from more affluent and well-resourced families have access to supports for remediation and tutoring. How can we ensure that everyone— and especially students in historically underserved and predominantly Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native communities have access to the same supports?

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•What does Kareem mean when he says this?

•How does the clip present the literacy crisis as not just an issue for all students, but also a crisis about fair and equitable access for some students in the US?

•If we are living in the Information Age, why is reading and literacy so essential for kids to learn?

•Do a gut check. What is your first, internal response to this question: Can all kids learn to read?

•If you thought, “Yes,” why? If you thought, “No,” why?

•Based on what you learned from the film, how would you explain why so many kids are not learning how to read?

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File website
https://www.therighttoreadfilm.org/watch-the-film-1

Oakland NAACP
https://acoach.org/campaigns/literacy-oakland/

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Bellevue Literacy Parents

https://bellevueliteracy.org/dyslexia

Decoding Dyslexia Washington
https://www.decodingdyslexiawa.org/

INW Dyslexia Alliance
https://inwdyslexia.org/

The Reading League Washington
https://wa.thereadingleague.org/

READWa
https://readwa.org/

Seattle Special Education PTSA

https://seattlespecialeducationptsa.org/

Washington State Science of Reading - What I Should Have a learned in College (Facebook Group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/576550929984869/

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Add your questions here!

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The Science of Reading: Defining Guide provides a firm definition of what the science of reading is, what it is not, and how all stakeholders can understand its potential to transform reading instruction.

Download the Spanish version

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The Reading League's new book, Science of Reading: Defining Guide, provides in-depth information on the science of reading and key instructional practices to help you make the shift in your practice.

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More information about why ineffective curriculum is being used across Washington state.

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More information about why ineffective curriculum is being used across Washington state.

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Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong

There's an idea about how children learn to read that's held sway in schools for more than a generation - even though it was proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago. Teaching methods based on this idea can make it harder for children to learn how to read. In this podcast, host Emily Hanford investigates the influential authors who promote this idea and the company that sells their work. It's an exposé of how educators came to believe in something that isn't true and are now reckoning with the consequences - children harmed, money wasted, an education system upended.

Sixty years ago, Marie Clay developed a way to teach reading she said would help kids who were falling behind. They'd catch up and never need help again. Today, her program remains popular and her theory about how people read is at the root of a lot of reading instruction in schools. But Marie Clay was wrong.
Sold a Story is an independent investigative journalism project from American Public Media. We rely on your donations to support this kind of rigorous reporting.
The controversial educational publishing company has sold instructional materials and professional resources in almost every state, earning at least $1.6 billion over a decade. Explore a map of school districts.

More states are now requiring districts to adopt curriculum that adheres to the science of reading. Look up the policy in your state.

At least 15 states have passed laws about how schools teach reading since the Sold a Story podcast was released in 2022, but there is pushback.

Here's a reading list put together by Emily Hanford.

This discussion guide, created by a teacher, invites educators, parents, community members and kids to have a conversation about the podcast.

Emails and voice messages poured in from people who listened to Sold a Story.

We'll let you know when we release new episodes of the podcast. Enter your address below.

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Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong

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There's an idea about how children learn to read that's held sway in schools for more than a generation - even though it was proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago. Teaching methods based on this idea can make it harder for children to learn how to read.

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https://www.readingrockets.org/blogs/right-to-read

Margaret Goldberg is the co-founder of Right to Read Project, a group of teachers, researchers, and activists committed to the pursuit of equity through literacy. Margaret serves as a literacy coach in a large urban district in California and was formerly a classroom teacher and curriculum developer. All posts are reprinted with permission from the Right to Read Project. Follow the Right to Read Project on Twitter.

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Margaret Goldberg is the co-founder of Right to Read Project, a group of teachers, researchers, and activists committed to the pursuit of equity through literacy. Margaret serves as a literacy coach in a large urban district in California and was formerly a classroom teacher and curriculum developer.

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“It’s not a question of can we do this. This is a question of WILL. This is a question of, once we decide we want to change this pipeline, once we decide we want a better future collectively and individually, we can get this done. But we need to act, and we need to act with urgency .” 13:50