Science of Reading
What the research really says about how children learn to read.
What Is the Science of Reading?
The science of reading is the large, converging body of research on how children learn to read — and what that evidence means for instruction. In practice, it points to explicit, systematic phonics inside a structured-literacy approach.
The guides below put that evidence to work, covering the structured-literacy practices and instructional routines that research consistently supports.
Why Some Children Learn to Read Earlier Than Others
In any kindergarten classroom, one child is already reading chapter books while another is still working out that letters make sounds. Both can be…
Read articleDo AI Reading Tutors Follow the Science of Reading?
Open the description of almost any reading app, and you will see the same promise: that it is based on the Science of Reading. The phrase has become…
Read articleAre AI Reading Tutors Safe for Children?
When parents ask whether an AI reading tutor is safe, they usually mean two things at once. One is about data, whether a company is recording and…
Read articleCan You Combine Multiple Phonics Programs?
It happens in a lot of homes. The school sends one phonics program, you downloaded a reading app that everyone recommends, and a well-meaning…
Read articleHow AI Listening Technology Works in Reading Apps
Some reading apps do something that feels almost magical. Your child reads a sentence aloud, and the app instantly shows which words they nailed and…
Read articleWhat Structured Literacy Certification Means
The phrase “structured literacy certified” is showing up everywhere right now: on tutoring profiles, school websites, reading intervention programs,…
Read articleHow to Evaluate Your Child’s School Phonics Program
Most parents trust that their child’s school is using a good reading program. That trust is reasonable, but it is not always warranted. According to…
Read articleAI Tutoring Apps and Phonics: Promising or Problematic?
AI-powered reading tools have moved from novelty to a common fixture in classrooms. By 2026, adaptive phonics apps and AI reading tutors are in…
Read articleScience of Reading Legislation: A State-by-State Overview
Over the past five years, 42 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws or adopted policies requiring schools to teach reading using…
Read articleFrequently asked questions
Where should I start with science of reading?
Start with the overview at the top, then use the topics list to jump to the area that matches your needs. Each topic links to a fuller guide.
Who are these science of reading pages for?
Both parents and teachers. The guidance is practical and jargon-free, with classroom and at-home applications throughout.
How often is this guidance updated?
We review our phonics guidance regularly against current reading research, so recommendations stay evidence-based.
Related Sections
Phonics 101
Core concepts, sequencing, and the instructional foundations behind effective phonics teaching.
Explore Phonics 101 →
Phonics Skills
Individual decoding skills from letter sounds and CVC words through vowel teams and syllable types.
Explore Skills →
Struggling Readers
Intervention, dyslexia-informed support, multilingual considerations, and progress monitoring.
Explore Support →