# Literacy & Language Resources

## Essentials for education professionals and reading specialists
On this page, you’ll find a curated collection of resources on the science of reading and effective literacy instruction. Explore these Brookes blog posts, articles from trusted sources, and expert-led webinars for information and strategies you can rely on.

## Blog Posts

**[RTI and Poor Reader Profiles: Two Big Ideas for Helping Struggling Readers](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/rti-and-poor-reader-profiles-two-big-ideas-for-helping-struggling-readers/)**  
Louise Spear-Swerling, Ph.D., author of the book  **[The Power of RTI and Reading Profiles](https://products.brookespublishing.com/The-Power-of-RTI-and-Reading-Profiles-P812.aspx)**, talks about two big ideas that can be used in tandem to help your students strengthen their reading skills.

**[40+ Language & Literacy Interventions for Multilingual Learners](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/40-language-literacy-interventions-for-multilingual-learners/)**  
Using interventions that make the most of home languages while promoting English language learning is important, and this post offers 40+ ideas from **[Special Education Considerations for Multilingual Learners](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Special-Education-Considerations-for-Multilingual-Learners-P1411.aspx)**.

**[12 Essentials for Effective Early Language & Literacy Instruction](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/12-essentials-for-effective-early-language-literacy-instruction/)**  
From the book **[Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction & Assessment, Pre-K–6, Second Edition](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Fundamentals-of-Literacy-Instruction-Assessment-Pre-K6-Second-Edition-P1184.aspx)**, these evidence-based strategies are effective ways to engage children with words and stories.

**[Screening & Assessment of Dual Language Learners: 4 Essential Resources](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/screening-assessment-of-dual-language-learners-4-essential-resources/)**  
Discover 4 helpful, up-to-date resources for accurately evaluating the language development of dual language learners: two recently published books, a new screener, and an assessment.

**[14 Tips for Nurturing Young Children’s Communication & Language Skills](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/14-tips-for-nurturing-young-childrens-communication-language-skills/)**  
Adapted from four of our practical resources on early intervention and development, this is a great post to share with families as they prepare young children to be successful communicators and readers.

**[10 Musts for Teaching Literacy Skills to Students with Significant Disabilities](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/10-musts-for-teaching-literacy-skills-to-students-with-significant-disabilities/)**  
Adapted from **[Comprehensive Literacy for All](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Comprehensive-Literacy-for-All-P1165.aspx)** by Karen Erickson & David Koppenhaver, this post identifies 10 success factors for students with significant disabilities learning to read and write.

**[Teaching Struggling Readers: 8 Steps to Effective Instruction](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/teaching-struggling-readers-8-steps-to-effective-instruction/)**  
Learn which lesson components make a difference for struggling readers in this post adapted from **[Effective Instruction for Middle School Students with Reading Difficulties](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Effective-Instruction-for-Middle-School-Students-with-Reading-Difficulties-P620.aspx)** by Carolyn Denton et al.

**[5 Mistakes in Reading Program Design that Can Hurt Struggling Readers](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/5-mistakes-in-reading-program-design-that-can-hurt-struggling-readers/)**  
Are you using the right core reading program for your students? This post points to five common trouble spots, adapted from Susan Smartt & Deborah Glaser’s book **[Next STEPS in Literacy Instruction](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Next-STEPS-in-Literacy-Instruction-P240.aspx)**.

**[15 Recommended Resources for Getting Language and Literacy Skills On Track](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/15-recommended-resources-for-getting-language-and-literacy-skills-on-track/)**  
This post highlights four big things to focus on this year to improve language and literacy skills, and presents some recommended resources to invest in.

**[Developer Q&A: Dr. Nickola Nelson on The TILLS Advantage](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/developer-qa-dr-nickola-nelson-on-the-tills-advantage/)**  
Lead developer Nickola Nelson talks about the advantages that set **[TILLS](https://tillstest.com/)** apart from other language tests and make it a groundbreaking assessment for students ages 6–18.

**[5 Ways to Support Language & Literacy Skills in Young Dual Language Learners](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/5-ways-to-support-language-literacy-skills-in-young-dual-language-learners/)**  
Adapted from **[Teaching Dual Language Learners](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Teaching-Dual-Language-Learners-P1204.aspx)** by Lisa López & Mariela Páez, this post brings you practical guidelines, along with a free printable version to save and share.

**[15 Ways to Boost Early Language & Literacy Skills in Inclusive Classrooms.](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/15-ways-to-boost-early-language-literacy-skills-in-inclusive-classrooms/)  **  
These simple and fun activities and strategies will get kids practicing early talking, reading, and writing skills. (Adapted from **[Blended Practices for Teaching Young Children in Inclusive Settings](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Blended-Practices-for-Teaching-Young-Children-in-Inclusive-Settings-Second-Edition-P1007.aspx)**.)

## Articles & Podcasts
**APM Reports**: [Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong](https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/)  
**Brookes:** [5 Essential Titles For Your Structured Literacy Bookshelf](/content/newsletters/communication-language-newsletter/5-essential-titles-for-your-structured-literacy-bookshelf/index.html)  
**EdSurge:** [What Does Reading Well Look Like?](https://www.edsurge.com/research/guides/what-does-reading-well-look-like)  
**Education Week:** [How Does Writing Fit Into the ‘Science of Reading’?](https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/how-does-writing-fit-into-the-science-of-reading/2023/01)  
**Education Week:** [More States Are Making the ‘Science of Reading’ a Policy Priority](https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/more-states-are-making-the-science-of-reading-a-policy-priority/2021/10)  
**Education Week:** [The Heavy Cost of Ignoring the Science of Reading for Teachers and Students](https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-the-heavy-cost-of-ignoring-the-science-of-reading-for-teachers-and-students/2022/12)  
**Edutopia:** [3 Ways to Build a Positive Reading Culture in Middle School](https://www.edutopia.org/article/build-positive-middle-school-reading-culture)  
**Edutopia**: [5 Ways to Support Students Who Struggle With Reading Comprehension](https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-ways-support-students-who-struggle-reading-comprehension)  
**Edutopia:** [6 Techniques for Building Reading Skills—in Any Subject](https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-techniques-building-reading-skills-susan-barber)  
**Edutopia:** [Squats, Lunges, and Phonemes](https://www.edutopia.org/article/squats-lunges-and-phonemes)  
**Hechinger Report:** [Retraining an Entire State’s Elementary Teachers in the Science of Reading](https://hechingerreport.org/retraining-an-entire-states-elementary-teachers-in-the-science-of-reading/)  
**IDA:** [What Is Structured Literacy?: A Primer on Effective Reading Instruction](https://dyslexiaida.org/what-is-structured-literacy/)  
**New York Times:** [In Mississippi, a Broad Effort to Improve Literacy Is Yielding Results](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/education/learning/mississippi-schools-literacy.html)  
**Reading Rockets:** [Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehension](https://www.readingrockets.org/article/seven-strategies-teach-students-text-comprehension)  
**Reading Rockets:** [Understanding and Assessing Fluency](https://www.readingrockets.org/article/understanding-and-assessing-fluency)  
**RTI Action Network:** [Classroom Reading Instruction That Supports Struggling Readers: Key Components for Effective Teaching](http://www.rtinetwork.org/essential/tieredinstruction/tier1/effectiveteaching)  
**Scholastic:** [How Can I Help My Struggling Readers?](https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/how-can-i-help-my-struggling-readers/)  
**The Hechinger Report:** [NAACP targets a new civil rights issue—reading](https://hechingerreport.org/naacp-targets-a-new-civil-rights-issue-reading/)  
**Understood:** [What’s the Difference Between Structured Literacy and Balanced Literacy?](https://www.understood.org/articles/en/structured-literacy-vs-balanced-literacy)  
**Understood:** [9 Ways to Build Phonological Awareness in Pre-K and Kindergarten](https://www.understood.org/articles/en/9-ways-to-build-phonological-awareness-in-pre-k-and-kindergarten)  
**We Are Teachers:** [What I Wish I Knew About Teaching Reading as a New Teacher](https://www.weareteachers.com/supporting-struggling-readers/)

## Webinars
**[Common Types of Reading Difficulties](/content/resource-library/common-types-of-reading-difficulties-webinar/index.html)**  
Presented by Louise Spear-Swerling, author of **[The Power of RTI and Reading Profiles](https://products.brookespublishing.com/The-Power-of-RTI-and-Reading-Profiles-P812.aspx)**  
**[Using Small Group Games to Teach Vocabulary](/content/resource-library/using-small-group-games-to-teach-vocabulary/index.html)**  
Presented by David Dickinson, author of **[Connecting Through Talk](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Connecting-Through-Talk-P1106.aspx)**  
**[Teaching Dual Language Learners in Early Childhood Classrooms](/content/resource-library/teaching-dual-language-learners-in-early-childhood-classrooms-webinar/index.html)**  
Presented by Lisa M. López & Mariela Páez, authors of **[Teaching Dual Language Learners](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Teaching-Dual-Language-Learners-P1204.aspx)**  
**[Identify Dyslexia Using TILLS](/content/resource-library/identify-dyslexia-using-tills/index.html)**  
Presented by Nickola Nelson, co-developer of **[TILLS](https://tillstest.com/)**  
**[Using Story Frames to Improve Comprehension, Written Language, and Key Skills](/content/resource-library/using-story-frames-to-improve-comprehension-written-language-and-key-skills/index.html)**  
Presented by Carolee Dean, author of **[Story Frames for Teaching Literacy](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Story-Frames-for-Teaching-Literacy-P1238.aspx)**  
**[A Comprehension Check-Up](/content/resource-library/a-comprehension-checkup/index.html)**  
Presented by Nancy Hennessy, author of **[The Reading Comprehension Blueprint](https://products.brookespublishing.com/The-Reading-Comprehension-Blueprint-P1197.aspx)**  
**[Structured Literacy Instruction for English Learners](/content/resource-library/structured-literacy-instruction-for-english-learners/index.html)**  
Presented by Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, author **[Literacy Foundations for English Learners](https://products.brookespublishing.com/Literacy-Foundations-for-English-Learners-P1192.aspx)