This month reporter Emily Hanford hosted and produced a 6-part podcast, Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong, which focuses on the development and dissemination of the 3-cueing system of reading instruction and its consequences. The American Public Media website describes the series as “...an exposé of how educators came to believe in something that isn't true and are now reckoning with the consequences — children harmed, money wasted, an education system upended.” We are encouraged that Direct Instruction got a brief mention in episode 3. It is also encouraging that Hanford includes the newly revised Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons on her list of additional readings on the Science of Reading.

This podcast is an example of how the discussion about best practices for teaching beginning reading are gaining momentum. We hope to see more in the future!