Sold a Story

Steubenville became a model of reading success. Then a new law in Ohio put it all at risk. In this episode, we look at the "science of reading" lists some states are making, why the program Steubenville has been using for 25 years isn't getting on many of these lists, and the surprising power of one curriculum review group.Read: Christopher Peak on EdReportsRead: Transcript of this episodeCall us: (612) 888-7323Email us: soldastory@apmreports.orgDonate: Support our journalism More: soldastory.orgDive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at soldastory.org/extracredit.

Dive into the transformative journey behind a powerful educational program designed to boost reading skills among underprivileged children. Discover the challenges faced by the Steubenville school district and the promising 'Success for All' initiative that emerged. Uncover the complexities of implementing evidence-based methodologies and the hurdles posed by veteran teachers. The episode critiques the effectiveness of popular reading programs and emphasizes the need for accountability and proven practices in enhancing literacy.

There’s a school district in eastern Ohio where virtually all the students become good readers by the time they finish third grade. Many of the wealthiest places in the country can’t even say that. And Steubenville is a Rust Belt town where the state considers almost all the students “economically disadvantaged.” How did they do it?Explore: Steubenville, by the numbers Read: Transcript of this episode Book: Districts that Succeed Book: How It's Being Done Podcast: ExtraOrdinary Districts Donate: Support our journalism More: soldastory.org  Email us: soldastory@apmreports.org  Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at soldastory.org/extracredit. 

A national journalist dives deep into the troubling history of reading instruction in schools. Discover how outdated methods persist despite being debunked by cognitive science. Explore the podcast's impact on educational policies aimed at enhancing literacy. Hear compelling discussions about the urgent need for reform in teaching practices, highlighting the transformative potential for students and educators alike.

The podcast delves into the impact of the 'science of reading' movement on teachers, students, and parents, discussing the challenges and successes of transforming reading instruction in public schools. Experts highlight the importance of explicit instruction in basic reading skills and caution against oversimplification while emphasizing the need for adaptable teaching methods. The episodes explore the evolving reading landscape, concerns for dogmatism in reading programs, and the balance between implicit learning and explicit instruction in education reform.

Lucy Calkins, Irene Fountas, and Gay Su Pinnell discuss the changing landscape of reading education. They talk about the struggle to maintain relevance in teaching reading, the consequences of outdated practices, and the fight to stay current in schools. The episode explores the aftermath of removing certain reading curriculums and the shift towards evidence-based programs in education.

Expert in education and literacy, Emily Hanford, discusses the importance of sharing stories in Spanish to engage Spanish-speaking communities in the US and the challenges of teaching English to Spanish-speaking children. The podcast also highlights the launch of 'Sold a Story' in Spanish and teases upcoming English episodes.

Across the country, school districts are dropping textbooks, state legislatures are going so far as to ban teaching methods, and everyone, it seems, is talking about "the science of reading." Things have been changing since Sold a Story was released. In this episode, we tell you about some of the changes and what we think about them.  Read: New reading laws sweep the nationWatch: The story behind Sold a StoryMore: soldastory.org Donate to support Sold a Story and other journalism from APM Reports. EXTENDED READING Blog: Seidenberg on translating research into practice Article: Goldenberg, Goldberg on premortem (paywall) | Excerpt Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at soldastory.org/extracredit. 

Voicemails, emails, tweets: We got a lot of messages from people after they heard Sold a Story. In this episode, we bring you some of their voices. A 10-year-old figures out why he has struggled to read. A mom stays up late to binge the podcast. A teacher confirms what he's suspected for years — he's not really teaching kids how to read.   Read: Messages from our listeners Watch: The story behind Sold a StoryCall us: ‪(612) 888-7323More: soldastory.org Donate to support Sold a Story and other journalism from APM Reports. Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at soldastory.org/extracredit.

This week we have an episode of a show called Brains On. It’s a science podcast for kids from our colleagues at APM. In this episode, Emily joins the Brains On hosts to talk about how people learn to read. Grab the kids in your life and listen to this special episode made for kids and curious adults.More: brainson.orgSupport our show: Donate to APM ReportsDive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at soldastory.org/extracredit.