ܹ̳

Special Report

The Science of Reading … and Writing

January 17, 2023
Third graders identify the different components of a strong paragraph, practicing with a sample piece of writing. Teachers at Kegonsa use models like this to help students master the frameworks that they will use in their own writing.
Third graders identify the different components of a strong paragraph, practicing with a sample piece of writing. Teachers at Kegonsa use models like this to help students master the frameworks that they will use in their own writing.
Narayan Mahon for ܹ̳
In schools’ haste to align reading instruction with scientific evidence, have they neglected writing? In our newest report, ܹ̳ digs deep into the place of writing instruction in elementary literacy, concluding that the “science of reading” might more properly be called the science of reading and writing.

The stories—all rooted in research—detail ways that teachers can embed writing throughout the elementary curriculum. For example, writing can enhance foundational reading skills and students’ knowledge of how words and sentences work. And throughout K-5, students need explicit writing instruction, modeling, tools, and access to rich content so that they can write in increasingly sophisticated ways.

We hope our report will be a foundation for schools to meet the goal of getting all children to be proficient readers and writers.