The hottest Literacy Substack posts right now

Productive struggle is a methodology in mathematics to enhance conceptual understanding.
In the field of English, there are practices that lead to unproductive struggle, like cold writes and advising students to only write about what they know.
Group work can be beneficial, but jigsaw teaching might hinder rigorous quality control or understanding checks.

Over the course of human history, a vast amount of knowledge and discovery has been lost due to the limited opportunities for people to pursue and share their ideas.
Many brilliant individuals throughout history may have gone unrecognized and their innovative ideas lost, as they were focused primarily on survival rather than creativity and exploration.
Today, we are fortunate to live in a time where access to resources like food, water, and shelter, along with advancements in medicine and technology, allow more individuals to focus on creativity and sharing ideas.

New legislation is being introduced to protect library collections from political interference.
Efforts are being made to provide free books and support for restricted books through private initiatives.
There is a debate over teaching methods in early childhood education, with concerns about prioritizing 'Science of Reading' and its impact on student-directed reading and diverse classroom libraries.

Proper literacy takes time and effort to develop
Literacy is essential for effective communication in various fields
Mastering literacy is an art that requires practice and challenges to one's worldview

Bronze was a key material in the Bronze Age, highly valued for its durability and versatility.
Linear A script was highly effective for communication and widespread literacy in ancient civilizations.
The strength and stability of various empires and civilizations during the Bronze Age are highlighted.

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Kids today struggle with reading due to a lack of concentration, influenced by smartphone usage.
The future of literature faces uncertainty - it could either see a renaissance or risk extinction.
Education systems are adapting to students' reading reluctance by reducing the focus on novels and embracing shorter forms of content.

Reading is crucial for children and benefits them in various ways.
Two-thirds of fourth-grade students in the US are not proficient in reading, indicating a concerning statistic.
Teaching reading should align with proven methods such as systematic phonics and multisensory strategies to ensure success.

Con-men are using AI to flood Kindle with low-quality children's books, which might harm childhood literacy.
AI-written e-books are increasing on platforms like Amazon, enabling rapid production and plagiarism.
AI-generated children's books, lacking empathy and coherence in story and illustrations, may negatively impact young readers' literacy and empathy development.