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    In 2017, Emily Hanford began investigating how children are taught to read. In a series of ongoing reports, collected here, she helped teachers, parents and policymakers recognize widespread flaws in instruction and helped spark a movement to bring the science of reading to schools. She and reporter Christopher Peak have a new podcast about how reading instruction went so wrong.

    NEW PODCAST

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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. In this new 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.

    DOCUMENTARIES

    What the Words Say
    Children of color are less likely to get help
    At a Loss for Words
    What's wrong with how schools teach reading
    Hard Words
    Why aren't our kids being taught to read?
    Hard to Read
    How American schools fail kids with dyslexia
     

    STORIES

    November 17, 2022
    How legislation on reading instruction is changing across the country
    More states are now requiring districts to adopt curriculum that adheres to the science of reading. Look up the policy in your state.
    November 10, 2022
    Heinemann's billion-dollar sales have nationwide reach
    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.
    October 20, 2022
    Want to know more about the science of reading?
    Here's a reading list put together by Emily Hanford.
    April 22, 2022
    New research shows controversial Reading Recovery program eventually had a negative impact on children
    Initial gains from first-grade intervention didn't last and kids performed worse in third and fourth grade.
    November 19, 2021
    Influential authors Fountas and Pinnell stand behind disproven reading theory
    The education professors double down on a flawed approach that encourages pictures and context to read words. Heinemann — their publisher — faces harsh criticism.
    October 16, 2020
    Influential literacy expert Lucy Calkins is changing her views
    In a major shift, the controversial figure in the fight over how to teach reading now says that beginning readers should focus on sounding out words, according to a document obtained by APM Reports.
    May 15, 2020
    Michigan reaches settlement in landmark right-to-literacy case
    The governor won't contest a court ruling that found students have a constitutional right to learn to read and agrees to more funding for Detroit schools.
    April 30, 2020
    Is learning to read a constitutional right?
    A federal court recently ruled that underfunded schools in Detroit violated students' right to a basic education. Advocates hope the case is the beginning of a trend.
    January 27, 2020
    Experts say widely used reading curriculum is failing kids
    A first of its kind review finds Lucy Calkins' materials don't align with the science of reading.
    December 20, 2019
    New salvos in the battles over reading instruction
    Several powerful people and organizations have weighed in on the national conversation prompted by APM Reports' podcast episodes.
    November 1, 2019
    National assessment shows more K-12 students struggling to read
    Correspondent Emily Hanford talks about the latest NAEP results and what they say about the state of reading instruction in the U.S.
    October 24, 2019
    A conversation with Emily Hanford on reading instruction in the U.S.
    Hanford talks about her reporting on what's wrong with how schools teach reading.
    October 8, 2018
    What to do if your child's school isn't teaching reading right?
    After our recent examination of why American kids aren't being taught to read well, we received a ton of questions, mostly from parents. So we went to the experts to get answers.

    NYT OP-EDS BY EMILY HANFORD

    December 5, 2019
    There is a right way to teach reading, and Mississippi knows it
    The state's reliance on cognitive science explains why.
    October 26, 2018
    Why are we still teaching reading the wrong way?
    Teacher preparation programs continue to ignore the sound science behind how people become readers.

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