@carlhendrick.substack.com with a masterful synthesis of the recent discourse about reading comprehension.
One of those Standing O, drop-everything-and-read it articles.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Olivia Mullins takes on the issues with a recent meta-analysis on reading comprehension.
Knowledge is still plenty important to nurturing comprehension; don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
curriculuminsightproject.substack.com/p/dont-recon...
In each of my ‘Latest in Literacy’ newsletters, I’m always curious to see which link will get the most clicks.
Last week, it was this one. Which I actually might have predicted, based on the field sentiments about iReady.
Read the roundup here: www.karenvaites.org/p/the-latest...
The anti-Ed Tech and pro-book movements are gaining momentum, especially for elementary grades.
Let's get the memo to the nation's curriculum selection committees, pronto.
My latest:
curriculuminsightproject.substack.com/p/to-future-...
Featuring @chadaldeman.bsky.social @missypurcell.bsky.social @smorrisey.bsky.social @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social @sarahschwartz.bsky.social @jillbarshay.bsky.social and Whew I am Realizing How Few People Are in Literacy 'Sky. Prob missing some.
Buckle up, folks. This was a helluva week.
And all of this is really important.
My latest:
www.karenvaites.org/p/the-latest...
I don't say that lightly. Sean has been hustling to develop expertly-crafted materials to teach vocab, and he is showing up every curriculum developer in America. I'm honored to bring the Word Mapping Project to wider audience.
You'll also hear reflections from the Curriculum Insight Project team.
A teacher in NY developed a vocabulary supplement that's taking sharp teacher circles by storm.
It's my honor to publish this piece by Sean Morrisey, spotlighting his work.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
We badly need a national discussion about math. Every educator I know believes schools need to focus more on structured math foundations (all kids knowing math facts, practice in early math to ensure fact fluency).
Superintendents haven't received the memo.
Holy moley, this disconnect.
From @hollykorbey.bsky.social latest:
open.substack.com/pub/hollykor...
Weekend reading, coming right up!
Featuring @hollykorbey.bsky.social @katasolow.bsky.social @natwexler.bsky.social @natejoseph.bsky.social @chadaldeman.bsky.social and so many more.
www.karenvaites.org/p/the-latest...
Everyone, and I mean everyone, is sweating state curriculum lists.
How did we get here? What can we do about it?
Tomorrow night at 7pm EST, @readingsimplified.bsky.social and I discuss! Join us.
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Do we need a new National Reading Panel?
That idea was floated in last week’s Congressional hearings, and I’m not the only one who likes it.
My own two cents, plus outtakes from the Congressional hearings, here:
www.karenvaites.org/p/the-scienc...
It was a long hearing, with its share of Questions That Were Really Comments (many off-topic IMHO), so Executive Summaries FTW.
This was fascinating watching.
Especially the calls for a new National Reading Panel.
I wrote up the highlights:
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
It was fascinating watching.
Especially the calls for a new National Reading Panel.
I wrote up the high points here:
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
It wasn’t a hypothetical!
First edition here:
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
Starting it the week we had Congressional hearings on literacy, plus pieces in the New York Times and National Review, feels right!
Platform and algorithm shifts have made it hard to keep tabs on the conversation on literacy.
I’m setting out to change that with a new regular roundup of literacy conversations. Think “Marshall Memo but for Literacy.”
Read it and subscribe here:
www.karenvaites.org/p/introducin...
What happened in this week’s Congressional hearings?
And what do they portend?
My latest:
www.karenvaites.org/p/the-scienc...
If hypothetically you were going to publish a roundup of the best literacy reading in the last few weeks, what'd be in it?
@mississippifreepress.org @tinaengberg.bsky.social @natwexler.bsky.social @natejoseph.bsky.social @patricebain.bsky.social @tombennett71.bsky.social @tiffanyphogan.bsky.social
I appreciated her spotlight on our effort to raise the alarm!
"At the risk of simplifying complex problems, the answer is books."
A line I wish I wrote, but it's actually Mary Katharine Ham in National Review, chonicling the disappointing shifts in US Ed... and noting the Southern Surge as an important counterpoint.
www.nationalreview.com/magazine/202...
I'm proud of my CIP fam for bottling this insider knowledge for the field, in a piece that also explains why writing is best taught connected to reading instruction.
This is the consensus position, even among knowledge-building curriculum superfans:
- Basically every ELA curriculum is a 'needs improvement' on early writing instruction
- Everyone supplements
Unfortunately, it's also insider knowledge.
curriculuminsightproject.substack.com/p/what-about...
Head's up...
@stevechiger.bsky.social @shannonsaglio.bsky.social @jillbarshay.bsky.social @mpolikoff.bsky.social @lrj417.bsky.social @callielowenstein.bsky.social @dtwuva.bsky.social @gaablab.bsky.social @gtoppo.bsky.social @guidingliteracy.bsky.social @rosehorowitch.bsky.social
Happening today: @hollylanephd.bsky.social and Alabama leaders talk Science of Reading with the appropriations committee.
Link in my latest:
www.karenvaites.org/p/congress-h...
@missypurcell.bsky.social @hollykorbey.bsky.social @tinaengberg.bsky.social @stephen-sawchuk.bsky.social
The critiques have been effectively rebutted — for starters, they can’t explain the continuing gains in Mississippi or the magnitude of the gains. Just as striking, the MS gains increasingly are being replicated in AL and LA, as they follow similar approaches. That’s enormously encouraging...”
“I wrote about Mississippi’s educational successes in 2023, but many of my fellow liberals then scoffed at the notion of learning from a state so tainted. Skeptics, mostly on the left, have made many critiques of the gains...
Southern Surge, So Hot Right Now.
@nickkristof.bsky.social has seen himself that Southern Surges build more trust than Mississippi Miracles.
Also, I’m honored to help him debunk Mississippi naysayers. Fun to see him shouting out my humble Substack via his links. 😊
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/o...
