iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Benjamin Riley @benjaminjriley.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

As I turn my life over (hopefully temporarily) to studying Alpha School, it’s striking how much contempt they have for everything I hold precious. “Normal schools.” Teaching, and the parent-teacher relationship. Literature. Empathy. Curiosity. But I didn’t expect their *own parents.* Stunning.

3257

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Benjamin Riley @benjaminjriley.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

SPECIAL REPORT Last month, Alpha School invited people to follow student social media accounts "if curious about life in our high schools." I accepted their offer. What I've found shocks me. Forget the AI and ask instead: Is Alpha Schools a cult? Follow along for a summary of my findings.

buildcognitiveresonance.substack.com

SPECIAL REPORT: My So-Called Alpha School

What is it like to be a student in Alpha School’s high school boot camp?

481008386

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Emily K Michael, Writer @emilythepoet.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I love this #teaching demo from Stephane Bolton and @katasolow.bsky.social. Stephane expresses the value of teaching language strategies with content knowledge. She structures the lesson with different methods of student response and models correct pronunciation. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy1A...

youtube.com

Active Engagement in a Knowledge-Building CKLA Lesson (1st grade)

YouTube video by Science of Reading Classroom

011

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Karen Vaites @karenvaites.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

When I tell you I have this conversation every single day, multiple times, with people across the country, I'm not exaggerating. Related: the misconception that K-2 students should only read from decodable books has gotta be debunked. scienceofreadingclassroom.substack.com/p/partner-re...

021

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Jacob Henry Deck for Housing Authority @vote-4-jacob.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

I was knocking on doors in Precinct 9 today when I ran into another candidate knocking on doors. Behind the door we were both knocking on was...a third candidate. Paul M. Selker, Ashish Kumar Mitra, and I all encourage you to vote for each other (they're both in pct. 9), and vote Yes on 1!

Three candidates for town meeting meet each other, comin' through the rye.

041

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Karen Vaites @karenvaites.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Kelsey Piper had me at the headline, “Teaching kids to read isn’t just phonics.” I love seeing the importance of background knowledge and text-rich instruction get its due. Great read: @natwexler.bsky.social @katasolow.bsky.social @missypurcell.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/theargum...

open.substack.com

Teaching kids to read isn't just about phonics

Is this the revenge of Whole Language Theory?

031

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Benjamin Riley @benjaminjriley.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

I am, once again, struck by the poverty of examples of how AI will meaningfully improve student learning. If anyone thinks these relatively simplistic tasks are the key to education revolution, I invite them to join me on a tour of literally any American school district to reassess their position.

Ms. Arnardottir, a business and entrepreneurship teacher, recently used Claude to make a career exploration game to help her students figure out whether they were more suited to jobs in sales, marketing or management. Ms. Gylfadottir, who teaches English, said she had uploaded some vocabulary lists and then used the chatbot to help create exercises for her students.

“I have fill-in-the-blank word games, matching word games and speed challenge games,” Ms. Gylfadottir said. “So before they take the exam, I feel like they’re better prepared.”

74510

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Karen Vaites @karenvaites.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

This piece had me at the title: “Stop Being Such F****** Killjoys” A timely call by @katasolow.bsky.social to end silly infighting in k-12 spaces. open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

open.substack.com

Stop Being Such F****** Killjoys

A few weeks ago, we shared a video from a 10th grade English class on X.

001

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

callie lowenstein @callielowenstein.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

there is really a blogpost to be written entitled "if you have a hammer everything is a nail" the hammer is UFLI #SoR #SoRSky (*i love UFLI. so useful, so great. but. i stand by my words. esp for Ts 4th grade & up, & all Ts who have small group time & are confused about life post-F&P)

052

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Emily Hanford @ehanford.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

New reporting from the APM Reports Sold a Story team. Nation's Report Card at risk: www.apmreports.org/story/2025/0... Lawsuit saves massive reading study: www.apmreports.org/story/2025/0... Another study slams shut: www.apmreports.org/story/2025/0... New episode: www.apmreports.org/episode/2025...

apmreports.org

Episode 14: The Cuts

076

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

We’ve also been talking to some schools and districts about how we can help them build and manage this sort of PD. If you’d like to have a conversation about this, get in touch!

030

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

It has been a joy to help create the kind of professional development I wish I had when I was in the classroom: instructionally-focused, teacher-led, video-based. I wrote a piece for the @shankerinst.bsky.social about how it works and how you can DIY this PD in your own school or district.

142

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

This is actually what happens when states gut public education. This is actually what happens when the federal government cancels grants: a talented educator leaves the classroom--and kids get less literate.

030

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Not sure where I want to end this thread, other than to refer all of the edu-pundits who allegedly care about literacy and "out-of-control" education spending to it.

110

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

This is partially a funding problem--if the federal grant hadn't randomly evaporated, if the state could backstop it. But it's also a nihilism problem. Her state is gutting public education. I know there are similar stories across her state and across the country.

110

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Just a deeply frustrating situation. I don't blame the district. They want to keep her. They know her value. She also wants to keep living in her tightly-knit community and supporting her students. She wants to do this work.

110

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

She's also thinking about HER future. The school year hasn't even started yet, and she's wondering if she should: 1. Take a regular teaching job 2. Leave public education and do consulting work (already has offers)

110

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

So now this teacher suddenly finds herself spread incredibly thin, no time to iterate and build capacity, anxious about the year, not sure how she'll manage between 3 campuses, assumes her students (who were making so much progress) will suffer.

110

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

1. Continue intervention work at HS. 2. Start doing intervention work at alt HS. 3. Start teaching 2 sections of English at MS. 4. Start doing intervention work at MS. After layoffs, it's the only way they can keep her.

110

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Her position was funded by a federal grant...and that funding has disappeared. Her state is also slashing education spending. Her district desperately wants to keep her...so they are. But here's her new job description:

110

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

You might think that the state would notice and try to support her to scale and spread this work. You might think she'd have the opportunity to iterate on this relatively new model. Maybe she can do some capacity building? If that's what you're thinking, you'd VERY be wrong.

110

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Rant incoming. Just spoke to a high school literacy specialist who in 3 years has built a successful literacy intervention program at her small, rural school (msg me to learn more). What's next for this teacher, you may wonder?

130

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

And now Faith Howard is joining our next cohort of Goyen Literacy Fellows. Couldn't be more excited to work with and learn from this brilliant educator!

040

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Holly Korbey @hollykorbey.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Coming Friday: Educators and experts say students are reading fewer books in English class—that the entire priority of English class has changed. What’s behind the shift? Subscribe to The Bell Ringer and find out which ELA curricula make reading whole books a priority.

021

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Karen Vaites @karenvaites.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Wow. Elana Gordon does intervention with students well-below their peers in reading skills. “At this point in the year, I have exited 26 students from intervention, meaning that these students not only made progress but caught up to their peers.” open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

open.substack.com

Accelerating Student Progress with EBLI: Student Data Profiles

The purpose of Tier 3 intervention is to increase intensity for those students that have already received extra support and are still falling behind their peers.

111

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

TL;DR After adopting EBLI, reading interventionist Elana Gordon has exited 26 students (!) from her intervention groups this year. 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 Skeptical? She's got data to prove it. Read about her data and work here. open.substack.com/pub/scienceo...

030

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

standup4research.bsky.social @standup4research.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Calling all the folks who care about kids and/or science. Yes, that's you! A zoom call with Matt Burns, professor and researcher from University of Florida this Wednesday, April 9th. It's part of a week of action in defense of the science of reading. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

122

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

callie lowenstein @callielowenstein.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Tomorrow! Wed 4/9 at 7:30 Join us to write letters to local papers to amplify this message: our federal edu research infrastructure matters, it has been decimated, it must be restored! We have 20 signups - can we get to 50? All hands on deck. #StandUpForReadingResearch #SaveIES

011

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

cohorteducation.bsky.social @cohorteducation.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

@standup4research.bsky.social saw lots of support for science and education at today’s Hands Off event in Pasadena. It’s the start of a full week of action. Learn more here: linktr.ee/standupforre...

062

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

standup4research.bsky.social @standup4research.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Mark your calendars. Gather your people. We're showing up for reading research and we need you there too. linktr.ee/standupforre...

044

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Holly Korbey @hollykorbey.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

This is such a great Tools for Practice—educator Elana Gordon shares her practice of helping students use learned content for sentence writing. Don't miss it!

011

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Are your students struggling to parse and compose complex sentences? Read all about Elana Gordon's work in @hollykorbey.bsky.social's Tools for Practice...and how she combines content learning with sentence construction in an intervention setting.

130

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Adrea Truckenmiller @adrea.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

The IES Practice Guides and resources inform every single literacy course & training for pre-service & in-service teachers. Any literacy intervention that has evidence behind it has evidence because the studies were funded by IES, OSEP, or by NIH. Every $ spent on IES research saves tax payer $.

03117

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Jennifer Lake @lakeginger.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

The IES is an invaluable resource for educators. We need to know what is effective for teaching and learning to serve students. #EduSky #Literacy #RighttoRead #Literacyforall

056

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

standup4research.bsky.social @standup4research.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

#edusky #educationalresearch If you can read this, thank a teacher. And also a researcher. Education improves through research and excellent research requires funding.

083

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

@EvidentlyR @evidentlyreading.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

A few years ago I went to a conference sponsored by the Dept. of Ed. The employees of the agency blew me away with their smarts, commitment, and care. They were amazing ambassadors of the US government… and I bet they all knew what IDEA stands for. #EduSky #EduSkyPrimary

0122

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Karen Vaites @karenvaites.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

We are already seeing some pretty eye-opening results… 👀 Please help us capture your school’s approach, as part of a broader conversation about how school schedules do and don’t line up with the goals of science of reading efforts. @katasolow.bsky.social @abbyteachesdsm.bsky.social

031

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Tisha Rajendra @tisharajendra.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

There is no Science of Reading without the science--federally funded grants that result in well-designed studies yielding high quality data. Stand up for kids! Stand up for SoR! Stand up for Literacy!

072

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

@EvidentlyR @evidentlyreading.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

#EduSky, #EduSkyPrimary -- did you know the ongoing research that contributes to the science of reading is under threat? We can speak out against dismantling science.

The heading reads: You can’t spell the Science of Reading without I E S.

An asterisk shows readers that IES stands for Institute of Education Sciences.

Image: The letters I E and S are shaped like children’s alphabet blocks.

The text reads:
Created by Congress in 2002
Dedicated to providing accessible scientific research into effective educational practices.
Critical to reading research
Trump canceled millions in IES research contracts, endangering the next generation of the reading science.
Call (202) 224-3121 and tell your Congressional reps: Hands off IES!

053

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Want to see what fluency instruction can look like in early elementary? Join us on 2/25! We'll step inside @ginquinnmoon.bsky.social and Laura Stam's classrooms, watch them teach, and get all of our questions answered! Register: bit.ly/42Pjtuc

071

Reposted by Science of Reading Classroom

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

We are thrilled to share that we are now accepting applications for the FOURTH cohort of Goyen Literacy Fellows. Read on for the relevant links 🧵

142

Science of Reading Classroom @katasolow.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

And watch this space over the next few weeks! Lots of reflections about the current cohort of fellows and the evolution of the program incoming!

010