https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/ [746e25-201] Sold a Story [55633e-202] Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong There's an idea about how children learn to read that's held sway in schools for more than a generation -- even though it was proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago. Teaching methods based on this idea can make it harder for children to learn how to read. In this podcast, host Emily Hanford investigates the influential authors who promote this idea and the company that sells their work. It's an expose of how educators came to believe in something that isn't true and are now reckoning with the consequences -- children harmed, money wasted, an education system upended. V SUBSCRIBE NOW V Apple Google Spotify EPISODES E1 The Problem Corinne Adams watches her son's lessons during Zoom school and discovers a dismaying truth: He can't read. Little Charlie isn't the only one. Sixty-five percent of fourth graders in the United States are not proficient readers. Kids need to learn specific skills to become good readers, and in many schools, those skills are not being taught. TRANSCRIPT | DOWNLOAD E2 The Idea Sixty years ago, Marie Clay developed a way to teach reading she said would help kids who were falling behind. They'd catch up and never need help again. Today, her program remains popular and her theory about how people read is at the root of a lot of reading instruction in schools. But Marie Clay was wrong. CLEAN VERSION | TRANSCRIPT | DOWNLOAD E3 The Battle President George W. Bush made improving reading instruction a priority. He got Congress to provide money to schools that used reading programs supported by scientific research. But backers of Marie Clay's cueing idea saw Bush's Reading First initiative as a threat. TRANSCRIPT | DOWNLOAD E4 The Superstar Teachers sing songs about Teachers College Columbia professor Lucy Calkins. She's one of the most influential people in American elementary education today. Her admirers call her books bibles. Why didn't she know that scientific research contradicted reading strategies she promoted? TRANSCRIPT | DOWNLOAD E5 The Company Teachers call books published by Heinemann their "bibles." The company's products are in schools all over the country. Some of the products used to teach reading are rooted in a debunked idea about how children learn to read. But they've made the company and some of its authors millions. TRANSCRIPT | DOWNLOAD E6 The Reckoning Lucy Calkins says she has learned from the science of reading. She's revised her materials. Fountas and Pinnell have not revised theirs. Their publisher, Heinemann, is still selling some products to teach reading that contain debunked practices. Parents, teachers and lawmakers want answers. In our final episode, we try to get some answers. TRANSCRIPT | DOWNLOAD Sold a Story is an independent investigative journalism project from American Public Media. We rely on your donations to support this kind of rigorous reporting. Donate EXTRA CREDIT [dd12dc-202] Want to know more about the science of reading? Here's a reading list put together by Emily Hanford. [a83de1-202] Heinemann's billion-dollar sales have nationwide reach The controversial educational publishing company has sold instructional materials and professional resources in almost every state, earning at least $1.6 billion over a decade. Explore a map of school districts. [30b9e8-202] How legislation on reading instruction is changing across the country More states are now requiring districts to adopt curriculum that adheres to the science of reading. Look up the policy in your state. [cae842-202] Sold a Story: Discussion Guide This discussion guide, created by a teacher, invites educators, parents, community members and kids to have a conversation about the podcast. EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS We're thinking about making a bonus episode with your reactions to the podcast. If we do, we can let you know when it comes out. Enter your email address below. [ ] Subscribe TRAILERS AUDIO VIDEO DOCUMENTARY ARCHIVE [bc71a5-202] August 6, 2020 What the Words Say A false assumption about what it takes to be a skilled reader has created deep inequalities among U.S. children, putting many on a difficult path in life. [f2ecaa-201] August 22, 2019 At a Loss for Words: What's Wrong with How Schools Teach Reading For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't know there's anything wrong with it. [9091c0-202] September 10, 2018 Hard Words: Why Aren't Our Kids Being Taught to Read? Scientific research has shown how children learn to read and how they should be taught. But many educators don't know the science and, in some cases, actively resist it. As a result, millions of kids are being set up to fail. [122aef-202] September 11, 2017 Hard to Read: How American Schools Fail Kids with Dyslexia There are proven ways to help people with dyslexia learn to read, and a federal law that's supposed to ensure schools provide kids with help. But across the country, public schools are denying children proper treatment and often failing to identify them with dyslexia in the first place. > MORE ON READING Sold a Story is a production of American Public Media with funding from the Hollyhock Foundation, the Oak Foundation, and Wendy and Stephen Gaal. 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