Two new studies suggest an important shift in thinking about beginning reading instruction. “Reading level” alone does not tell us enough about how difficult a text will be for students. The familiarity, frequency, and spelling patterns matter greatly. textproject.org/frankly-fred...

Check out this sneak peek into the science of reading lab at TextProject - how can corpus linguistics help us pinpoint the multisyllabic words most worth teaching? www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Rz...

I'll be presenting the distinguished scholar address for the Research in Research & Literacy Special Interest Group at AERA 2026 on Friday, 4/10. (Sarah M. Lupo is co-author) Read about one of the concepts in the research here: textproject.org/frankly-fred...

Enter our March giveaway to win a copy of "The Diamond Explorer" or "How to Talk to Your Succulent." 1. Follow me here if you haven't already. 2. Comment below with which book you'd prefe 3. Tag a friend in the comments for an extra chance to win! Find out more at textproject.org/frankly-fred...

Join me this Saturday 10am-noon PST for a free webinar on the the new science of vocabulary! Leveraging AI-generated insights has the potential to enhance vocabulary acquisition across all grades and subjects, revolutionizing word learning in education. www.eventbrite.com/e/the-new-sc...

What does NAEP Proficiency actually represent? When aspirational benchmarks are misread as diagnostic norms, high expectations become public condemnation. textproject.org/frankly-fred...

The issue is not declining rigor in the complexity of school texts. The issue is compressed progression. Contemporary texts often begin at elevated levels and provide less systematic lexical expectations across grades. textproject.org/research/rea...

Freddy's Favorites is back! To celebrate the return of our curated selection of read-aloud recommendations, head over to our latest post "Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary" and subscribe to the TextProject monthly newsletter: textproject.org/giveaway

Even at the earliest stages, TextProject texts support knowledge acquisition as well as word recognition. Our resources, including those for beginning readers—BeginningReads and TopicReads-Primary— ensure students master decoding through meaningful content. textproject.org/frankly-fred...

For the latest issue of Literacy Today, I sat down with Lara Deloza to discuss how educators can move beyond "cherry-picked" word lists to focus on high-frequency, high-impact vocabulary—backed by decades of research and now enhanced by AI. #Edusky #EdTech #Literacy publuu.com/flip-book/24...

What a delight to talk about my life's work with the Melissa and Lori Love Literacy Podcast! We discuss the power of text sets, strategies for vocabulayr instruction, and more. #Edusky #literacy textproject.org/power-of-tex...

Enjoyed talking with Jake Downs, host of the Talking Literacy podcast, about automaticity, the core vocabulary, reading volume, and shifts in understanding of text complexity over the decades. textproject.org/automaticity...

Introducing WordRoots, targeted texts centering on root words to enhance students’ understanding of English word construction. WordRoots develops recognition of morphemes—meaningful word units often neglected in literacy instruction. textproject.org/teachers/voc... #EduSky #teachingreading

In addition to our free, research-based texts for K-12 students, TextProject.org offers a wealth of professional development resources and insights from the latest literacy research. All available for free download at textproject.org/teacher-educ... #eduSky #teachereducators #professionaldevelopment

How can teacher education programs best prepare teacher candidates for the crucial task of choosing appropriate classroom texts for reading instruction? TextProject.org's latest Reading Research Snapshot provides some important insights. #EduSky textproject.org/text-selecti...

DecodableReads™ are short, engaging stories that reinforce consistent, common vowel patterns and high-frequency words. Available for free as online flipbooks or downloadable story bundles on our website at textproject.org/decodablereads #EduSky #scienceofreading

The Common Core standards dramatically increased text complexity based on an incorrect assumption that texts had been getting easier. Read my case for aligning text complexity with research-based developmental progressions: #Edusky textproject.org/misunderstan...

Slides from Freddy's recent webinar presentation to the Illinois Reading Council are now available on the TextProject website. Thanks to everyone who attended. America’s teachers are amazing! textproject.org/library-page...

I'll be at The Center for Literacy & Learning's #PlainTalkNOLA 2025 this coming Thursday Feb. 13, presenting two sessions on "Decoding English: How Spelling and Meaning Shape Reading Success" and "The New Science of Vocabulary: AI Enhanced Approaches to Word Selection." See you there! www.mycll.org

While AI excels at organizing and presenting factual information, the art of crafting stories that resonate with young readers still requires human creativity, emotional intelligence, and lived experience. textproject.org/ai-story-pro...

If you’re impacted by the wildfires in Southern California, apply for the CTA Disaster Relief Fund. Or if you’re able to, consider donating to help. Click here: ctamemberbenefits.org/disaster

Vocabulary is not about memorizing lists, it's about learning connections between words. Learn how teachers can leverage AI-generated insights to enhance vocabulary acquisition in this free webinar with Dr. Elfrieda “Freddy” Hiebert, January 14, 2025 @ 3:30 pm EST. Info: textproject.org/register

Thought-provoking article from Natalie Wexler: Has the "Science of Reading" gone overboard on phonics? #EduSky nataliewexler.substack.com/p/has-the-sc...

Video is now available from my keynote for the Literacy Research Association Reading Hall of Fame Mentoring session on December 5! #EduSky www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Pj...

There's still time to sign up for this webinar! TextProject's own Dr. Elfrieda H. (Freddy) Hiebert joins Sonia Cabell and Sean Morissey to spotlight vocabulary as the unsung hero in reading success. #EduSky #knowledgematterscampaign us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

How are scaffolded texts different from the old Dick & Jane controlled vocabulary readers? Read how advances in language research and data analysis can be used to create texts that support automaticity while maintaining natural, engaging language. textproject.org/word-zones-s... #Edusky