eSchool News | literacy page 1

From fragmentation to fidelity: How Wayne-Westland built a literacy system that works

March 16, 2026 by Nancy Schulz, Wayne-Westland Community School District

Proper diagnostics create a foundation to help close the literacy gap and drive measurable outcomes for all students.

On the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, only about one in four fourth graders in Michigan scored at or above proficiency in reading--a stark reminder that too…

District Management

Too many apps, too many missed messages

March 3, 2026 by Crystal Famania, Phoenix Elementary School District #1

How a 100 percent Title I district strengthened family trust through consistency and unifying school communication.

In our district, families were checking multiple apps just to keep up with school communication. One child’s teacher posted in one platform. Another school used something different. District…

AI in Education

AI didn’t break homework: It exposed what was already broken

February 23, 2026 by Nesreen El-Baz, Bloomsbury Education Author & School Governor

In an AI era where homework can be generated instantly, the most valuable evidence of learning is human reasoning behind the finished product

Who among us has never copied a homework answer in a hurry? Borrowed a friend’s paragraph? Accepted a parent’s “small correction” that eventually became a full rewrite?

Why schools and public libraries must unite–in summer and all year long

February 19, 2026February 19, 2026 by Britten Follett, Follett Content Solutions

When schools and public libraries work together, they don’t just promote summer reading--they nurture lifelong readers.

Some of the most effective literacy ecosystems today are those where schools and public libraries work not in parallel, but in partnership with parents and students.

A quicker climb up the literacy mountain: Why rigor and efficiency matter in early reading

February 12, 2026 by Leah Ruesink, Early Literacy Coach

In early reading, first graders who are behind have an 88 percent chance of still being behind in fourth grade--rigor and efficiency are key.

In early literacy, the goal is simple but urgent: Help students become independent readers and writers. Every instructional decision we make either moves them closer to that goal…

What’s in and out in literacy instruction for 2026

February 11, 2026 by Stacy Hurst, Reading Horizons

Solving the literacy crisis requires commitment to implementation and letting go of familiar approaches that aren't serving students.

The conversation around literacy instruction has reached a turning point. After decades of debate, we're finally seeing a broad consensus around evidence-based practices--but the challenge now is moving…

5 high-frequency and irregular word teaching strategies rooted in the Science of Reading

February 10, 2026 by Kendall Stallings, Fairfield County (CT) Kindergarten Teacher

When it comes to teaching, educators can move beyond memorization and equip students with the tools they need for fluent, confident reading.

When students learn to read in the early elementary years, developing phonemic awareness, decoding skills, and blending typically take priority. Another essential component of fluent reading, however, is…

Curriculum & Assessment

Sparking civic engagement as we approach America’s 250th

January 23, 2026 by Melaney Sánchez, Ph.D., Mt. Harmony Elementary

When every subject and resource become hubs for civic engagement, students begin to see citizenship as something they live.

Imagine students who understand how government works and who see themselves as vital contributors to their communities. That’s what happens when students are given opportunities to play a…

District Management

Beyond the dashboard: Why K-12 educators need data literacy, not just data

January 20, 2026 by Dr. Curt Merlau, Resultant

The power of any data dashboard isn't in the dashboard itself--it's in the conversations that happen around it. Data literacy is critical.

Walk into any data meeting at a K-12 school today, and you'll likely see a familiar scene: educators huddled around printed reports, highlighters in hand, trying to make…

AI in Education

Teaching visual literacy as a core reading strategy in the age of AI

January 19, 2026 by Nesreen El-Baz, Bloomsbury Education Author & School Governor

Educators face urgent questions around misinformation, academic integrity, and critical thinking around AI. Visual literacy is key.

Many years ago, around 2010, I attended a professional development program in Houston called Literacy Through Photography, at a time when I was searching for practical ways to…

Teacher Professional Development

How AI can fix PD for teachers

December 10, 2025 by Andy Szeto, Ed.D, Professor and District Administrator

Too many PD sessions remain generic, compliance-driven, or disconnected from day-to-day teaching realities--but AI can help.

Many teachers have experienced PD sessions that are disorganized, disconnected from practice, or delivered by outsiders who misunderstand the local context.

Lerner Publishing Group Launches Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s Genius and Joy Curriculum

December 9, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Lerner Publishing Group, a leading publisher of K-12 educational materials, is proud to announce the launch of Dr. Gholdy ... Read more

Solving the staffing crisis is key to the Science of Reading movement

December 5, 2025 by Laura Stewart, 95 Percent Group

Every time a new leader or teacher steps in, the hard-won progress on a literacy initiative can be jeopardized--staffing is critical.

As someone who’s dedicated my career to advancing the Science of Reading movement, I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to help every child become a strong, fluent reader.

From momentum to endurance: Scaling structured literacy with implementation science

December 1, 2025 by Kimberly Stockton, Ed.D.

When it comes to structured literacy, implementation science is a roadmap for translating the science of reading into instructional routines.

When districts adopt evidence-based practices like Structured Literacy, it’s often with a surge of excitement and momentum. Yet the real challenge lies not in the initial adoption, but…

Personalized Learning

From explaining to empowering: How tutors can support student thinking

November 11, 2025 by Dr. Halley Bowman, Saga Education

Building cognitive lift doesn’t require a complete overhaul--it comes from small shifts tutors can make in every tutoring session.

Consider the work of a personal trainer. They can explain and model a workout perfectly, but if the athlete isn’t the one doing the lifting, their muscles won’t…

3 strategies to boost student reading fluency this school year

October 31, 2025 by Dr. Carolyn Brown, Foundations in Learning

All students can become strong, proficient readers when they are given the right tools, instruction, and support in reading fluency.

With the new school year now rolling, teachers and school leaders are likely being hit with a hard truth: Many students are not proficient in reading.

Curriculum & Assessment

Why critical data literacy belongs in every K–12 classroom

October 2, 2025 by Evan Shieh, Young Data Scientists League

Critical data literacy is essential to help students navigate cultural nuance, question assumptions, and collaborate across disciplines.

An unexpected group of presenters--11th graders from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago--made a splash at this year’s ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (FAccT).

Strengthening middle school literacy: What educators need to know

October 1, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Building middle school literacy doesn’t just improve test scores--it gives students the skills to succeed in every subject.

Literacy has always been the foundation of learning, but for middle school students, the stakes are especially high. These years mark the critical shift from learning to read…

Game-Based Learning

Is gamification the key to achieving true inclusion in special education?

August 26, 2025August 25, 2025 by Aditya Prakash, SKIDOS

Gamification can turn classrooms into places where students with diverse needs feel seen, supported, and excited to learn.

Key points: For students with special needs, learning can often resemble a trek through dense woods along a narrow, rigid ... Read more

Digital Literacy

Lessons from DENSI: Weaving digital citizenship into edtech innovation

August 12, 2025 by Dr. Stephanie J. Madlinger, Discovery Educator Network (DEN)

As edtech tools enable new paths to digital citizenship, innovative AI and collaborative tools form new learning experiences.

A few weeks ago, I had the thrilling opportunity to immerse myself in the 20th anniversary of the Discovery Educator Network (the DEN), a week-long journey that reignited…

5 steps to a successful literacy training rollout for teachers

August 12, 2025 by Catherine Guillory, Lafayette Parish School System

Teachers are busy, but educators will be inspired when they see the tangible results of their professional learning in literacy.

A lot of teachers assume that once students get to fourth or fifth grade, they already know how to read. And while this is true most of the…

Nine in 10 educators back evidence-based reading, but training and implementation lag

August 12, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

A new whitepaper around the science of reading IDs gaps in preparation, uneven curriculum adoption, and high demand for professional learning

While most New York educators enthusiastically support the science of reading, few report using it as their primary approach to literacy instruction, according to a new statewide survey conducted by…

4 tips to support the literacy needs of middle and high school students

August 8, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

A new report underscores the literacy challenges of older students left behind by the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptions to learning.

Today's middle schoolers continue to struggle post-pandemic to read and write at the level needed to successfully navigate more complex academic content in the upper grades and beyond.

Emergent writing: 3 ways to plant seeds for lifelong literacy

August 4, 2025 by Dr. Christina Bretz, Learning Without Tears

Emergent writing is a critical milestone in early childhood literacy, when children first connect symbols with meaning.

Just as a gardener plants seeds and nurtures them into strong, flourishing plants, early childhood educators have the opportunity to nurture the earliest seeds of literacy in young…

How we’re rebuilding literacy–and confidence–in our high school

July 28, 2025July 28, 2025 by Cindy Walker, Birmingham Community Charter High School

What began as a literacy strategy to help students access grade-level texts turned into a catalyst for broader reading transformation.

By the time students reach high school, reading struggles are harder to hide--and harder to address. Unlike early grades where texts are simpler and foundational skills are the…

AI in Education

From pen to prompt: Navigating AI in the classroom

July 28, 2025 by Kris Astle, SMART Technologies

Students can (and should) still show their work in the age of AI--but it might look a little different in today's classroom.

Education helps develop our cognitive muscles. Letting AI do it for us is not the answer, but could AI be a thought partner to help build this skill?…

Why stories still matter in a fast-moving world

July 22, 2025 by Britten Follett

Literacy is about critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and engaging with complex ideas--and the stories in books matter for students.

The power of books goes far beyond personal nostalgia. When a major title drops, it’s not just a release date--it’s a shared experience. Readers rush to get their…

Live @ ISTE 2025

Showfloor News: DreamBox Reading by Discovery Education enhanced to support PreK-5 literacy for back-to-school 2025

July 7, 2025July 2, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Discovery Education, the creators of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world, today announced significant enhancements to ... Read more

Live @ ISTE 2025

Showfloor News: Introducing Kibeam, the screen-free AI-powered device bringing regular books to life

July 2, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Kibeam is redefining early childhood literacy education with the launch of Kibeam Wand: a first-of-its-kind, screen-free, AI-powered handheld device that ... Read more

AI in Education

Building an educator’s AI toolbox

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025 by Laura Ascione

Enhance engagement, personalize instruction, and streamline tasks with AI tools that support smarter, more efficient classroom learning.

It seems like everywhere you look, AI is there--and classrooms are no exception. During an ISTELive 25 session, Eric Curts, a technology integration specialist with the Stark Portage…

Live @ ISTE 2025

Showfloor News: AERDF highlights the latest PreK-12 discoveries and inventions

July 2, 2025July 1, 2025 by Laura Ascione

The Advanced Education Research & Development Fund (AERDF), a national nonprofit, and its awardees debuted the latest advancements and innovations in ... Read more

Game-Based Learning

5 reasons why game design is the best way to teach STEAM skills

August 28, 2025June 27, 2025 by Mike Kawas, GameU

Through game design, students gain hands-on experience that traditional classrooms often lack--and they build strong STEAM skills.

Industries are evolving quickly, and they need workers with strong STEAM skills. But most traditional classrooms aren’t set up to keep pace. Students often aren’t getting the real-world,…

AI in Education

New partnership trains Michigan teachers for AI innovation

June 27, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

The collaboration will support AI readiness in schools via the state’s existing network of instructional and educational technology coaches.

A new partnership between Michigan Virtual and the AI Education Project (aiEDU) will position Michigan for successful innovation opportunities within the AI in education space.

Students Using Lexia Core5 Reading Outperformed Their Peers On the Smarter Balanced English Language Arts/Literacy Assessment

June 25, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

BOSTON – In California, third- to fifth-grade students at 525 schools using Lexia Core5 Reading (Core5) from Lexia, a ... Read more

AI in Education

You’re using ChatGPT? A true story about why AI literacy starts with us

February 19, 2026June 24, 2025 by Nesreen El-Baz, ESL Educator

Responsible AI use and AI literacy are not just about the technology--they're about curiosity, judgment, integrity, and communication.

Math isn’t my strongest subject, and when a student asked me to help solve an equation involving angles as I covered for a fellow teacher, I hesitated. Rather…

Ignite Reading Again Approved as 1:1 High-Dosage Early Literacy Tutoring Provider in Massachusetts

September 4, 2025June 13, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

BOSTON — Ignite Reading — a Science of Reading-based virtual tutoring program serving students in 18 states nationwide — today ... Read more

aiEDU and The Rithm Project Partner to Infuse Human Connection into AI Literacy Through High School ELA Curriculum

June 11, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

DENVER — The AI Education Project (aiEDU) and The Rithm Project are proud to announce a new partnership focused on ... Read more

From school year to summer: Why reliable edtech matters to boost literacy

June 11, 2025June 11, 2025 by Judy Boone, Irving Independent School District

Literacy is not confined to English Language Arts--in fact, every teacher is a reading teacher, and reliable edtech is key.

There’s something to be said for legacy platforms that not only stand the test of time but continue to evolve in ways that meet the shifting needs of…

Catapult Learning is Approved to Provide High-Dosage Tutoring in Massachusetts Elementary and Secondary Schools

June 10, 2025 by ESchool News Staff

PHILADELPHIA – Catapult Learning, a division of FullBloom that provides intervention programs for students and professional development solutions for teachers in ... Read more

AI in Education

AI prompt engineering: A critical new skillset for 21st-century teachers

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 by Timothy Montalvo, Iona University

Prompt engineering is not just about using AI--it’s about using it wisely, ethically, and creatively in teaching and learning.

Prompt engineering--the ability to craft precise, thoughtful inputs for AI tools to produce effective outputs--is quickly becoming an essential skill in modern education. More than a technical trick,…

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