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People out there are asking good questions. Here’s one from today – The “Kids Today Can’t Read” Problem: Reading Crisis or “Perennial Gripe”? by Paul Thomas His answer impressed me. I won’t attempt to describe his entire article; it deserves being read in its entirety. I’ll just summarize and mention my takeaways. So, is it true kids today can’t read? He first suggests there has simply never been any catastrophic social consequence supporting that idea. Then he asks if ki

Reading instructions for making paper airplanes The “Science of Reading” appeared on the scene a few years ago. It’s a phrase that sounds impressive. In today’s world, how could we not climb aboard this ship and sail it through all our classrooms? Yet my own experiences with reading—and with the many readers I have known—do not fit neatly into what I would call a science. Each child’s journey into reading seems profoundly individual, shaped by the circumstances of their own l

2026 3 1 I have a master’s degree and a doctorate in education, though no specialized training in special education. Still, I have long been fascinated by how children learn—especially how they learn to read. Recently, I had the opportunity to read The Hunger Games with Kate, a homeschooled seventh grader who has struggled with reading for years. I suggested we read together, thinking it might be both enjoyable and helpful for her to spend time reading with someone outside h