Literacy
Watch How Children’s Vocabulary Grows
Watch How Children’s Vocabulary Grows
The more work I do at the intersection of education and technology, the more I am convinced that simple high-leverage…
Mr. Roger’s 9 Rules for Talking to Children Apply to Us All
Mr. Roger’s 9 Rules for Talking to Children Apply to Us All
Ever since seeing the way Mr. Rogers deftly convinced federal officials to fund his show, I had this newfound curiosity…
Netflix Be Damned. Levar Burton Talked About Literacy for an Hour at SXSWedu
Netflix Be Damned. Levar Burton Talked About Literacy for an Hour at SXSWedu
An hour with Levar Burton talking about literacy. Hell, yes. Let me be honest: I haven’t watched this yet. BUT…
A Reminder That Reading Regularly is Just So Freaking Good For You
A Reminder That Reading Regularly is Just So Freaking Good For You
Check out this BBC piece on why reading is so good for you (though I’d also like to add audiobooks…
Reading Rainbow 4 Eva
Reading Rainbow 4 Eva
Talking with a new teacher recently, I casually mentioned Reading Rainbow. A blank stare followed. Reading Rainbow, I reiterated. The…
Why Am I Saying to Forget the Screen When Talking About Screentime?
Why Am I Saying to Forget the Screen When Talking About Screentime?
I had the pleasure of presenting on screentime at the Literacy Research Association last week. In discussions about how to…
Don’t Judge: I Bought My Son These Pencils and He Loves Writing With Them
Don’t Judge: I Bought My Son These Pencils and He Loves Writing With Them
Do whatever it takes to help your child become a reader and a writer. That’s what I say. So when…
Should We Be Teaching Students to Spot Fake News? After Watching This, I Suspect You Will Say YES.
Should We Be Teaching Students to Spot Fake News? After Watching This, I Suspect You Will Say YES.
My jaw dropped several times watching this. We hear the term “fake news” so often it can mask the subversive…
Listen: The Digital Age Really Isn’t Destroying Reading the Way You Think
Listen: The Digital Age Really Isn’t Destroying Reading the Way You Think
Ever hear that reading is in sharp decline as social media and digital devices sweep away traditional forms of reading?…
My Top 10 Questions for Elevating Students’ Writing (and My Own)
My Top 10 Questions for Elevating Students’ Writing (and My Own)
It can be a real challenge for teachers and administrators to weave together all the different standards and priorities. At…
An Underground Literacy Movement, Literally
An Underground Literacy Movement, Literally
Kudos to the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York for promoting reading. I appreciated their line: “Celebrate the transformative power…
Is Skimming Replacing Reading? Why, Yes.
Is Skimming Replacing Reading? Why, Yes.
We are reading less deeply for briefer amounts of time and with less investment than we used to. At least…
Why Do We Say “O.K.”? I’m Glad You Asked
Why Do We Say “O.K.”? I’m Glad You Asked
Language is socially constructed. The phrase O.K. originated in Boston in the 19th century as a way to say “all…
9 Pictures of Readers from Around the World
9 Pictures of Readers from Around the World
Thank you, BBC, for curating these snaps featuring reading–in many forms–from across the globe. And if teaching reading and writing…
Readers Confess Why They DIDN’T Read the Books Teachers Assigned in School
Readers Confess Why They DIDN’T Read the Books Teachers Assigned in School
Ever skip a reading you were supposed to do for school, and it didn’t really matter? You’re not alone. In…
Let Joey Tribbiani Teach You a Little Something about Language and Learning
Let Joey Tribbiani Teach You a Little Something about Language and Learning
My family was away recently, which meant: Friends binge-watching! I’m neither proud nor ashamed, just uncharacteristically content. As I’ve shared…