Author Archives: David Armstrong

The architectural foundation of childhood literacy instruction is undergoing an intensive structural realignment across the United States. For decades, the dominant educational philosophy favored balanced literacy models that integrated a strategy known as the three-cueing system, or the Meaning-Structure-Visual (MSV) framework. This methodology instructed young learners to deduce unfamiliar words by looking at surrounding illustrations, evaluating grammatical contexts, or guessing based on sentence flow, rather than directly decoding the printed … Read the rest

The debate surrounding children’s literacy has historically focused on a strict binary choice: the tactile permanence of traditional printed books versus the accessible portability of digital screens. For years, educators and parental figures heavily favored physical pages while viewing digital formats as inherently distracting shortcuts. However, shifting engagement trends have sparked a massive re-evaluation of how young learners interact with written language.

The launch of the global National Year of … Read the rest

Getting a kid to read during summer break is tough. It’s like trying to sell sunscreen to vampires. But our goal is bigger than just stopping the “summer slide.”

We aim to create a place where kids love to read. It’s not just about homework. It’s about sparking curiosity.

Studies from UConn show the best approach. It involves creating a reading culture, improving skills, and engaging the community.

This strategy … Read the rest

Let’s be honest. The advice to “read more” is like being told to “eat your broccoli.” It’s good for you, but it’s not exciting.

The secret isn’t just reading. It’s the how. Forget memorizing words. We’re building a mental library that lives and breathes.

Research shows there’s no single way to learn words. The National Reading Panel found that learning is a mix. It includes direct teaching, strategic learning, … Read the rest

Trying to get students engaged today is tough. It’s like trying to explain Inception to a room full of cats. I’ve been there, and it’s not easy.

Educator Chris Merlo says something important. Today’s students haven’t seen Ghostbusters. Their view of learning is very different from ours.

Another teacher, Semma, had a moment that stood out. A student called her “mom.” It showed how disconnected they felt from the … Read the rest

Let’s talk about something important. Are we teaching kids to read or to love books?

It’s like choosing between learning scales or feeling the blues. One is technical, the other is emotional. The debate is often seen as a fight between “Science of Reading” and “Love of Reading.”

This debate is not real. It’s like saying an engine or the joy of driving is more important. You need both. Phonics … Read the rest