A Novel Idea: The History of the Science of Reading

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. ...

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 Ga...

“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.

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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 ...

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 coordina...

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 
• D...

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. Timot...

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, ...