What Does Research Show About Reading?

The publications listed below can be reached by using the links provided, or they can be ordered at no charge by clicking here.

Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching Children to Read
This 33-page scientific report summarizes the findings of the National Reading Panel, an independent panel formed by congress and led by the NICHD to evaluate evidence-based reading research in an effort to understand the best ways to teach reading. The National Reading Panel led to the Partnership for Reading, a collaborative effort by the National Institute for Literacy, the U.S. Department of Education, and the NICHD to bring the findings of evidence-based reading research to those with an interest in helping all people learn to read well.

A Child Becomes a Reader: Birth to Preschool; Proven Ideas from Research for Parents
When does a child learn to read? Many people might say in kindergarten or first grade. But researchers have told us that children can begin to learn reading and writing at home, long before they go to school. This booklet offers advice for parents of children from birth to preschool on how to support reading development at home, and how to recognize preschool and day care activities that start children on the road to becoming readers.

A Child Becomes a Reader: Kindergarten Through Grade 3; Proven Ideas from Research for Parents
The road to becoming a reader begins the day a child is born and continues through the end of third grade. At that point, a child must read with ease and understanding to take advantage of the learning opportunities in fourth grade and beyond. This booklet offers advice for parents of children from grades K-3 on how to support reading development at home, and how to recognize effective instruction in their children's classrooms.

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