A Novel Idea: The History of the Science of Reading

Our journey through the history of literacy instruction in the United States has brought us to the very place we started: the current science of reading movement that has taken the education field by storm. In this concluding episode of A Novel Idea, we discuss the future of the science of reading movement and hear input from a variety of experts, including:

• Emily Hanford (Twitter: @ehanford), senior producer and correspondent, APM Reports
• Melissa Loftus and Lori Sappington (Twitter: @literacypodcast), co-hosts, Melissa and Lori Love Literacy 
• Kareem Weaver (Twitter: @KJWinEducation), co-founder, FULCRUM
• Dr. G. Reid Lyon, former director, NICHD
• Hannah Bain, Iowa teacher
• Nina Lorimor-Easley, assistant director for education and outreach, Iowa Reading Research Center
• … & more!

Learn More

Science or snake oil: How to tell the difference, Holly Lane, University of Florida Literacy Institute

https://ufli.education.ufl.edu/science-or-snake-oil/

Read it, say it, hear it, write it: Instructional routines that engage the four language skill areas, Meg Mechelke, Iowa Reading Research Center

https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/blog/2023/05/read-it-say-it-hear-it-write-it-instructional-routines-engage-four-language-skill

Scope and sequence: What is it, and how do educators use it to guide instruction?, Meg Mechelke, Iowa Reading Research Center

https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/blog/2023/03/scope-and-sequence-what-it-and-how-do-educators-use-it-guide-instruction

Episode transcript and sources
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-8

A Novel Idea website:

irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast

Following the explosion of the Reading Wars in California, a push for nationwide literacy legislation swept the nation. In this episode of A Novel Idea we explore the consequences of this movement, including the influence of legislative efforts including The National Reading Panel and Reading First. Featuring thoughts from:

• Dr. G. Reid Lyon, former director, NICHD 
• Natalie Wexler (Twitter: @natwexler), author, The Knowledge Gap 
• Dr. Timothy Shanahan (Twitter: @ReadingShanahan), distinguished professor emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago 
• Dr. Maryanne Wolf, author, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain and Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain

Learn More
National Reading Panel
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pubs/nrp/Documents/report.pdf

Episode transcript and sources
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-7

A Novel Idea website:

irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast

In the 1990s, debates over literacy instruction reached a tipping point in the nation’s most populous state. Learn more about the reading crisis in California and the start of the so-called “Reading Wars” in this episode of A Novel Idea. Plus, hear from:

• Dr. G. Reid Lyon, former director, NICHD
• Dr. Maryanne Wolf, author, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain and Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain
• Dr. Timothy Shanahan (Twitter: @ReadingShanahan), distinguished professor emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago 

Learn More
“The Reading Wars,” Nicholas Lemann, The Atlantic Monthly
https://www.pbs.org/weta/twoschools/thechallenge/history/
Scarborough’s Rope
https://institute.aimpa.org/resources/readingrope

Episode transcript and sources
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-6

A Novel Idea website:

irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast

Whole language is one of the most talked about developments in literacy instruction in the past several decades. In this episode of A Novel Idea, we take a look at the history and founders of this popular teaching philosophy and examine its effects on contemporary instruction. Featuring insight from:

• Dr. G. Reid Lyon, former director, NICHD
• Natalie Wexler (Twitter: @natwexler), author, The Knowledge Gap
• Kate Will, program coordinator, Iowa Reading Research Center
• Melissa Loftus and Lori Sappington  (Twitter: @literacypodcast), co-hosts, Melissa and Lori Love Literacy
• Dr. Maryanne Wolf, author, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain and Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain
• … & more. 

Episode transcript and sources
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-5

A Novel Idea website:

irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the work of several influential researchers in the early days of the science of reading. These pioneers of literacy research paved the way for the development of evidence-based instruction of today and played major roles in advocating for effective, equitable literacy instruction for all students. Plus, hear from:

• Natalie Wexler (Twitter: @natwexler), author, The Knowledge Gap
• Dr. Fumiko Hoeft (Twitter: @FumikoHoeft), director, University of Connecticut Brain Imaging Center
• Dr. Maryanne Wolf, author, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain and Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain
• Nina Lorimor-Easley, assistant director for education and outreach, Iowa Reading Research Center
• ... & more!

Episode transcript and sources
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-4

A Novel Idea website:

irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go!” In this episode, find out how children’s picture books became a major battleground for debates about literacy instruction. Plus, hear insights from author Natalie Wexler (Twitter: @natwexler) and Dr. Fumiko Hoeft (Twitter: @FumikoHoeft), director of the University of Connecticut Brain Imaging Research Center.

Episode transcript and sources

https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-3

A Novel Idea website:

irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast

Hear ye, hear ye! In this episode, we travel all the way back to the 17th and 18th centuries to examine the Enlightenment-era roots of reading instruction as we know it. We will introduce several major players in the early days of literacy education, and examine the ways in which their actions have influenced today’s conversations surrounding literacy. Plus, hear from Natalie Wexler (Twitter: @natwexler), author of The Knowledge Gap, and Kate Will of the Iowa Reading Research Center.

Learn More:

In addition to the philosophical and pedagogical changes discussed in this episode, the concept of literacy education was also a subject of political discourse during these years. These resources provide more information on this angle of American literacy learning not covered in the episode and are excellent starting points to learn more.

Confronting Anti-Black Racism: Education, Harvard Library

library.harvard.edu/confronting-anti-black-racism/education 

How literacy became a powerful weapon in the fight to end slavery, Colette Colman, HISTORY

www.history.com/news/nat-turner-rebellion-literacy-slavery

Episode transcript and sources

irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-2

A Novel Idea website:

irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast

What is the science of reading? And why is everyone in the literacy community talking about it?

In this episode, we explore the current state of the science of reading movement. Along with our original reporting, you’ll hear from: 

• Melissa McGuire, Tara Rabenberg, and Kimberley Moser of Iowa’s Spencer Community School District
• Melissa Loftus and Lori Sappington of Melissa and Lori Love Literacy (Twitter: @literacypodcast)
• Dr. Kymyona Burk of the Foundation for Excellence in Education (Twitter: @kymyona_burk)
• Kareem Weaver (Twitter: @KJWinEducation) of FULCRUM
• parents of struggling readers
• …& more!

Learn More

National Reading Panel

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pubs/nrp/Documents/report.pdf

Sold a Story podcast

https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/

Right to Read documentary

https://www.therighttoreadfilm.org/ 

Special Thanks

Carla Siravo and Mike Archangelo

YouTube: @mrs.siravo5975 and @mikearchangelo

Instagram: @carlasiravoauthor and @mikearchangelo.

Aja McNair (Everything Aja LLC)

YouTube: @EverythingAJA

https://www.everythingaja.com/

Susan Jones

YouTube: @SusanJonesTeaching

https://susanjonesteaching.com/

Episode transcript and sources:

https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-episode-1 

A Novel Idea website:

irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast

A brand new, 8-episode podcast series, brought to you by the Iowa Reading Research Center, explores the historical roots of today’s science of reading movement.

Learn More

“U.S. education achievement slides backwards,” Jill Barshay, The Hechinger Report

Episode transcript and sources
https://irrc.education.uiowa.edu/transcript-and-sources-novel-idea-trailer

A Novel Idea website:

irrc.education.uiowa.edu/resources/novel-idea-podcast