The Blog

Many schools are shifting from Response to Intervention (RTI)  to a broader Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).  This transition provides schools with the opportunity to strengthen instruction for all learners, including students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)  and multilingual learners. Understanding how these groups fit into MTSS is critical for ensuring equity, compliance, and student growth.  When schools embed special education and language supports in

In classrooms everywhere, teachers face a tough decision: when students struggle with a text, should we lower the Lexile level to “meet them where they are”? On the surface, it feels compassionate. But lowering the text too far risks keeping students from the very experiences that build reading strength. ✅ The challenge is not whether students can access grade-level texts. The challenge is how we help them get there.

My first experience learning Spanish was in high school. Like many students, I spent four years memorizing vocabulary lists, practicing choral repetition, and doing endless writing drills to master basic grammar rules. I thought I was prepared. But when I stepped off the plane in Madrid, confident in my ability to navigate the Spanish-speaking world, I quickly realized how unprepared I truly was.What I hadn’t yet learned was this: language is not just something you study—it’s

For multilingual families, language loss is a real and pressing concern. How do we create a bridge between languages instead of a barrier? 

Managing a reading block can be challenging. The key is balancing structure with flexibility to ensure effective instruction.

Understanding High Ability Cluster Grouping

Background knowledge is critical to understanding new information. It helps us make connections, improves comprehension, and improves memory

If you want readers to better understand the text they are reading, vocabulary should be part of your plan. 

Language is a complex system of intricate connections between words and meanings. It is complex code used to communicate. Morphology is the foundation and framework of English spelling (Hegland, 2021) and contributes to the overall sense of a word. Morphology is the study of morphemes. Morphemes are the smallest meaningful unit of language (Hegland, 2021). Morphemes can be standalone words, like “book”, called free morphemes, or they can be parts of words like prefixes, suffi

Teachers and students alike often name the time set aside for reading aloud as their favorite time of the school day! There are so many reasons why a powerful read-aloud is so important in classrooms of any age group. Reading aloud to students exposes readers to authentic text representing a diverse range of authors and text types while building students’ knowledge about a topic of study. Reading aloud builds language and vocabulary, sparks curiosity, and provides opportuniti

Are you looking for books that help your students WANT to read? Are you trying to match reluctant readers with books they fall in love with? Books that make them keep coming back for me? Here’s my list of 5 types of books that kids just might love, even if they profess to “Hate Reading”. I’ve added some of my favorite titles to each category for you to check out.

Most education professionals, regardless of whether they are on a year-round or a school-year contract, think of the summer as a time to rejuvenate and do all the things there wasn’t time for during the school year. For me, that means time to catch up on reading, personal and professional. It also means I have a little time to think about what I’m reading and explore some new things. I don’t want to get stuck in a rut and just keep reading the same author or type of book over

A proficient reader has thousands of words in their sight vocabulary. Words that we automatically recognize at a speed so fast we don’t even realize it is happening. Words that we can’t stop ourselves from reading. Words that are permanently stuck in our brains. How does this happen? How do words move from needing to be decoded, to permanent and instant recognition? It’s all about orthographic mapping.

Summer is both a time of relaxation and preparation for teachers. As educators, we are always looking for ways to improve our instruction. We put together a summer reading list for teachers that are perfect for poolside reading.

As educators begin to shift practice, it is important to build a common understanding among each other. Then when we partner with others we are speaking the same language and have the same understanding.    This month’s post is going to help you get started by answering three important questions: What is decodable text? Why is decodable text important? And Where can I find decodable readers?

If you’ve spent any time in education lately, you’ve probably heard the phrase “science of reading.” But it’s more than a buzzword. The science of reading is a large body of research explaining how people learn to read, why some students struggle, and which instructional practices reliably lead to success. It’s not a single program or trend — it’s decades of evidence that can transform how we teach literacy.

Fluency is essential for skilled reading. It is often referred to as the bridge between decoding and comprehension. I’d add that it’s also a huge factor when it comes to joyful reading. No one wants to do things that are laborious or feel like a chore. So how can we engage students in fluency building activities that are fun?

August means only one thing, back to school. Teachers gear up by organizing, decorating, and creating a physical space that supports learning. This is the time when teachers decide which materials to pull out and what to have at the ready for instruction. If you are a new teacher or new to the primary grades you might be asking, what should I make sure I have.  

Picture books aren’t just for preschoolers and younger children, readers of all ages enjoy and learn from picture books. I LOVE picture books! They are full of rich language, beautiful illustrations and photographs, and bonus, you can typically read them in one sitting.   

If you are an educator or parent, then you have likely spent some time thinking about the best ways to teach children to read. If you are a parent or educator with a struggling reader, you have probably agonized over how to help that child. Reading Simplified has determined how to teach struggling readers of any age.