In recent years, the concept of gamification has appeared within the educational sector as a methodological innovation. There are several studies that show the motivational advantages of using this methodology in education. However, there is a dearth of studies that analyse its influence on the promotion of reading. We carried out a…

We describe the rationale for- and content of- a freely available, novel, theoretically driven and evidence-based approach to improving the teaching of word reading in reception classrooms called 'Flexible Phonics'. Flexible Phonics (FP) adds measurable value to-, rather than wholly replacing, existing synthetic phonics programmes. The rationale…

In this study, an undergraduate teacher education course is used to explore whether and how academic reading seminars "reflect the theoretical notion of academic literacies and provide a learning environment for developing academic and professional learning and engagement." The data analyzed in this article are transcribed recordings of…

Two recent computational models of reading development propose that irregular words are read using a combination of decoding and lexical knowledge but differ in assumptions about how these sources of information interact and about the relative importance of different aspects of lexical knowledge. We report developmental data that help to…

All too often lost in the pressure and intensity of the current practice of English teachers and literacy educators is due acknowledgement of the continuing importance of history. This paper brings together two concerns: the work of Margaret Meek Spencer as a key figure in the history of English teaching, reading pedagogy and literacy education,…

This study investigated how 15 kindergarten teachers from one school district implemented small-group Guided Reading (GR). Analysis of video recordings indicates substantial differences in how GR was conducted, with none of the teachers fully implementing GR as conceptualized by Fountas and Pinnell (2012). Consistency across teachers was limited…

The problem addressed in this research study was that strategies used by literacy coaches to train teachers to improve elementary level reading instruction are often not effective. The purpose of this qualitative narrative analysis study was to gain insight into the perspectives of teachers and literacy coaches in one school district in South…

Due to technological advancements such as text-to-speech software, reading while listening (audio-assisted reading) is widely available. However, the findings are mixed on the effectiveness of reading while listening as a tool to improve comprehension. The purpose of this study is to synthesize existing studies on reading while listening to…

This paper pushes beyond current debates over what is being called the science of reading to articulate a multidimensional complex conception of what is entailed in reading comprehension. Reading comprehension entails not only cognitive processes, but equally important is how issues of identity along multiple dimensions, perceptions of tasks and…

What is the science of reading? The Reading League, in their document "Science of Reading: Defining Guide" (TRL, 2022), proposes that "The science of reading is a vast, interdisciplinary body of scientifically-based* research about reading and issues related to reading and writing." (p. 11.) The asterisk is carrying a lot of…

This research examined how teacher efficacy impacts the delivery of instructional practices. Teachers' self-efficacy influences critical academic outcomes and well-being in the working environment. Teacher efficacy is their belief in their ability to effectively handle the tasks, obligations, and challenges related to their professional activity.…

Teachers are asked to use reading science to inform how they teach phonics and phonological awareness. As teachers look to the research base to guide their practice, some questions and concerns regarding what best practice looks like have come up. This article starts with a brief description of phonics and phonemic awareness and then discusses…

Reading comprehension is not a skill someone learns and can then apply in different reading contexts. It is one of the most complex activities that readers engage in on a regular basis, and the ability to comprehend is dependent upon a wide range of knowledge and skills. Despite a common view about comprehension, several lines of enquiry have…

Orthographic knowledge (i.e., the knowledge of conventions of a written language) has been identified as a predictor of both basic and higher-level reading processes, however, mostly examined in a cross-sectional design. It remains unclear, whether and how orthographic knowledge contributes uniquely in explaining differences in the acquisition of…

This article explores the underpinning assumptions about the changing definition and parameters of early reading that are contained in successive UK Departments for Education (DfE, DfES, DfEE) documentation since 1995 and in Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) reports and official blogs during the same…