Opinion | These Three Red States Are the Best Hope in Schooling

Evidence-based education and the science of reading yield wonderful results :

These Three Red States Are the Best Hope in Schooling www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/o...

Black History Month with The Reading League "The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class—it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity. Education is the right to the light."— Dr. Anna Julia Cooper

At TRL, we believe literacy is a "birthright of humanity."

This #BlackHistoryMonth, we honor Dr. Anna Julia Cooper, who fought for the highest educational standards for Black students.

"The light," she championed, lives on in the #SoR—giving every child tools to claim their freedom.

Quote: "Informed teachers are our best insurance against reading failure." from Dr. Louisa Moats

So true, Dr. Moats! Teachers are doing such complicated, important work! We are grateful!

#Literacy #Education #ScienceOfReading #MarylandSchools #LiteracyMatters

Bruce Springsteen releases anti-ICE protest song 'Streets of Minneapolis' On Wednesday Bruce Springsteen released 'Streets of Minneapolis,' a protest song condemning the violence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis.

On Wednesday Bruce Springsteen released 'Streets of Minneapolis,' a protest song condemning the violence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis. n.pr/3NUhXSa

YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free

🎙️Thanks to @eugeniakis.bsky.social for the thoughtful conversation on her #podcast Psychology Inside Out.
open.spotify.com/episode/6Sxt...
@geneamsterdam.bsky.social @ntrbiopsy.bsky.social
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NORAD's Santa Tracker began with a typo and a good sport It all started in 1955 with a misprint in a Colorado newspaper and a call to Col. Harry Shoup's secret military hotline. Shoup played along with the tiny voice who called, and a tradition was born.

It all started in 1955 with a misprint in a Colorado newspaper and a call to Col. Harry Shoup's secret military hotline. Shoup played along with the tiny voice who called, and a tradition was born. From the NPR archives.

Flyer for Dr. Truckenmiller’s talk at Planet Word Museum on 1/29 at 6pm

So many educators I talk to want to know the most effective ways to teach & assess writing. I wanted to know too. I’m psyched to share what we’ve found over 15 years. I’m most excited to share it at the amazing Planet Word Museum! @thereadingleague.org

Reading Whole Books, and "Miracles" in Education Yes, kids are reading fewer books in school--and that's a big problem.

Why it's important for kids to read whole books--plus why what happened in Mississippi isn't a "miracle" but evidence that science-aligned teaching can lead to dramatic improvements.

So can having kids read whole books.

My latest post on Minding the Gap:

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/reading-wh...

The science of reading shows how students learn; the science of teaching shows who they are. Educators can connect the two by centering their instruction around the 4Rs: relevance, rigor, real-world application, and relationships. Learn more and find resources on The Reading League Compass

Use the 4Rs to connect the science of reading with the science of teaching reading: Relevance, Rigor, Real-world application & Relationships.

The science of reading shows how students learn; the science of teaching shows who they are.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4aJST9N

Beyond Excerpts

Does it really matter if students read only brief texts & excerpts, and no whole books?

In a new piece in American Educator, I argue that it does--a LOT. And I offer ideas that can enable kids to get the valuable experience of, e.g., reading novels as a whole class.

www.aft.org/ae/winter202...

Podcast: Let's talk about reading Maria Murray and Laurie Black discuss the relationship between literacy and poverty, the resources available in Onondaga County for parents and children, the Book Buddies program, and ways to improve ...

@mariamurray.bsky.social & United Way of CNY's Laurie Black joined the It's Happening Here podcast.

They discuss the link between literacy & poverty, the resources available in Onondaga County, the Book Buddies program & how caregivers can support reading development.

🎧: https://bit.ly/48xEfQn

Could It Happen Here? England has made great strides in aligning its education system with cognitive science. Why hasn't the U.S.?

Why has England been more successful than the US in aligning education with cognitive science?

Maybe because England uses a different kind of test for accountability.

Read more in my latest post, on a new book by former schools minister Nick Gibb.

nataliewexler.substack.com/p/could-it-h...

Middle Schoolers' Reading Skills Are Declining, New Report Finds A recent report from NWEA found that middle schoolers are showing a noticeable decline in reading abilities. Here, we’ll unpack what the researchers uncovered, what factors are influencing middle scho...

“Many middle schoolers are struggling with reading and writing, and that's especially likely to be true if they come from less highly educated families."- @natwexler.bsky.social, author of #TheKnowledgeGap.

How can schools remedy this? Learn more on Parents.

www.parents.com/new-report-f...

Giving Tuesday Because of You, Reading Continues to Give 120k-plus educators trained and nearly 2 million students reached. Help us reach even more for Giving Tuesday with The Reading League A friendly teacher high fiving her young male student while others work diligently in the background

Because of you, reading continues to give. 💙 Last year, 120K+ educators gained the knowledge to teach reading effectively—reaching nearly 2M students.

Help us keep the momentum going this #GivingTuesday as we work to reach more educators: thereadingleague.org/donate

#Nonprofit #ItTakesALeague

How New Literacy Product Reviews Are Demanding Vendors Go Beyond a 'Phonics Patch' The Reading League is hoping to advance the conversation around literacy materials and push for improvements in the K-12 marketplace through their new product reviews.

What does it really mean for literacy materials to be research-aligned?

In a @edmarketbrief.bsky.social interview, TRL's Marisa Ramirez Stukey explains how rigorous, research-informed reviews, strong publisher partnerships & coherence across grade levels are reshaping literacy instruction. ⬇️

Oregon’s small school districts often have more inexperienced teachers Just over a fifth of Oregon teachers last year had been on the job for three years or less, according to recent data from the Oregon Department of Education.

State data shows just over a fifth of Oregon teachers last year had been on the job for three years or less. For smaller districts, that percentage is often higher and so is staff turnover. To counteract that trend, a small district in Lane Couny is increasing its recruiting efforts.

📌 "McMahon’s argument that no one would miss the Department of Education depends on several assumptions [...]. These assumptions do not align with the lived reality of American families."

Kevin Curry, a food influencer and a former SNAP recipient, explains where SNAP recipients can get the most up-to-date information on their benefits, and how anyone can find free or affordable food. n.pr/4nPEa0c

1 in 5 kids rely on snap

2024 Impact Report 207,000+ books and resources were ordered by 800+ schools worldwide 6,000+ educators trained through professional development 2,000,000+ students received improved instruction 1,000+ sets of classroom decodables were bundled and shipped 120,000+ educators utilized resources and training for knowledge building

41 The Reading League Chapters total across the U.S. 15,000+ TRL chapter members across the U.S. 380 volunteer chapter leaders across the U.S.

At every level, connection is at the heart of what we do, bringing research to practice, educators to knowledge, and students to the opportunities they deserve. And it's possible because of you.

💙 2024 was our most impactful year yet!

Each milestone reflects our commitment to helping every child learn to read & equipping every educator to teach them. None of this would be possible without you. Thanks for being part of this community.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3WQSz0M

#Nonprofit

The Reading League Compass New Resource for Pediatricians Explore evidence-aligned guidance and practical tools to: Identify early signs of reading difficulties Share printable resources to support families in nurturing literacy development Connect literacy and whole-child health

“Medicine and education are both critically involved in the health and well-being of children. These worlds need to be interconnected.” - Dr. Robert Rogers, Pediatrician and President of The Reading League Texas Explore this new resource and share it with your colleagues thereadingleague.org/compass/pediatricians

Pediatricians play a vital role in early literacy & our new resource is here to support you.

Explore #TRLCompass & find guidance to:

🔹 Identify reading difficulties early
🔹 Support families in literacy development
🔹 Connect literacy with whole-child health

https://bit.ly/4hiQrIC

Join The Reading League's Communities of Practice Connecting Literacy Leaders Collaborate with peers and experts in real time Explore timely topics and practical solutions Gain actionable ideas to bring back to your classrooms and systems Find your community today

TRL hosts monthly Communities of Practice to support literacy professionals across the field. These groups are free and tailored to specific areas, providing focused conversations, impactful networking, resource sharing, and more.

Find your community: https://bit.ly/4navCR9

#ItTakesALeague

In reading, the nation's students are still stuck in a pandemic slump New 2025 testing data shows third- through eighth-graders scored far below 2019 levels in reading. In math, some grades have made gains, but all are lagging compared to before the pandemic.

New 2025 testing data shows third- through eighth-graders scored far below 2019 levels in reading. In math, some grades have made gains, but all are lagging compared to before the pandemic. n.pr/473xAwC

Kids who use social media score lower on reading and memory tests, a study shows Data from a large, ongoing study of adolescents shows a link between increasing social media use and lower cognition and memory in teens.

Data from a large, ongoing study of adolescents shows a link between increasing social media use and lower cognition and memory in teens.

What Oregonians need to know about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in local schools For all the pros there are with this advanced technology, for both students and teachers, there are several cons, too. And where there are gray areas that take extra nuance to navigate, young people will need guidance.

Students and teachers already use a variety of AI tools on a regular basis. It can quicken tasks and serve as a helpful study tool, but it can also be used to bully and harass peers.

YouTube video by APM Reports New Sold a Story discussion guides for Episodes 11-14

Sold a Story fans - we've got something new! www.youtube.com/shorts/a94It...

What Makes an Effective Reading Intervention? One Researcher's 5 Criteria Studies highlight targeting specific skills and offering opportunities for practice, among others.

At #TRLConf2025, @burnsm1.bsky.social shared five evidence-based criteria to guide educators in choosing and delivering interventions that truly help struggling readers.

@edweek.org’s Sarah Schwartz breaks down the insights and additional takeaways from the session.

Kids who use social media score lower on reading and memory tests, a study shows Data from a large, ongoing study of adolescents shows a link between increasing social media use and lower cognition and memory in teens.

www.npr.org/sections/sho...