THE READING LEAGUE
Blog
Explore insights, success stories, and practical guidance from educators and experts advancing the science of reading. The Reading League Blog highlights evidence-aligned practices, professional learning, and stories that inspire change in literacy instruction.
5 Things You Should Know About The Reading League Summit
If you’ve ever left a conference wishing for more time to connect research, data, and classroom practice, The Reading League Summit is for you. This unique event brings together educators, researchers, and leaders for a shared journey toward one goal: using literacy data to make a real difference for students. Here are five things you should know before you join us in May 2026.
1. Everyone learns together.
At the Summit, there are no competing sessions or scattered schedules. Every participant—whether you’re a teacher, researcher, principal, district leader, school psychologist, university faculty, coach, or consultant—spends two days in the same room, engaging in one shared experience. The result? A genuine sense of collaboration and a shared understanding that connects research, assessment, and instruction across roles.
2. The research is the focus, and so
Summer Book Study Recap 2025: MTSS for Reading Improvement
By Andrea Setmeyer, National Chapter Director
This summer, The Reading League Chapter Network hosted our annual book study with a new release: MTSS for Reading Improvement by Sarah Brown and Stephanie Stollar. Chapter leaders from across the country selected this title because of its practical, empowering guidance for school leaders working to implement the science of reading in complex school systems.
Implementation is at the heart of so many conversations right now, and we believed this book would serve as a valuable, actionable resource for school teams. What we didn’t expect? Over 5,200 educators and leaders from every U.S. state, D.C., and even Canada joined us for this summer of learning! The response was incredible—educators from all roles participated, engaged deeply in our live virtual session with the authors, and shared
Embracing Educator Growth: Our Shift From “Professional Development” to “Professional Learning”
At The Reading League, we’ve made a deliberate choice to no longer use the term “professional development” (PD). Instead, we embrace professional learning. This shift is intentional and rooted in a deeper understanding of how educators grow and improve.
The Limitations of “Professional Development”
Traditionally, PD is synonymous with workshops, seminars, and one-time training sessions where information is delivered to educators. While well-intentioned, these delivery models often fail to lead to meaningful changes in teaching practices. As Michael Fullan (2007) aptly noted, the term itself can be “a major obstacle to progress in teacher learning.” This is because the focus tends to be on delivering content rather than fostering genuine learning and growth.
Embracing a New Paradigm: Professional Learning
Professional learning moves beyond limitations of typical PD delivery to a continuous, collaborative, and reflective process. It recognizes that
A Mission in Action: How Colorado’s 5280 Literacy Symposium Helped Advance the Right to Read
By Alex Frazier, The Reading League Colorado President
At The Reading League, our mission is simple but powerful: to advance evidence-aligned reading instruction so that every child can become a confident, skilled reader. In Colorado, that mission came to life with the launch of our first-ever, in-person 5280 Literacy Symposium in June 2024—and just one year later, we are celebrating a powerful outcome for kids across the state. Kareem Weaver speaking at the 2024 Symposium
The 2024 symposium was more than an event—it was a movement. We brought together educators, families, and advocates for a day of inspiration and action. The program featured keynote speaker Kareem Weaver, whose voice continues to challenge us to put students first; a screening of the award-winning documentary The Right to Read that underscored the urgency
Summit 2025: Insight, Impact, and What’s Next
On April 21–22, The Reading League (TRL) held its third annual Summit in Chicago, Illinois. Unlike traditional conferences where participants choose from a variety of sessions, the Summit offers a shared learning experience.
Essential Tools for Adolescent Literacy
Adolescent literacy is complex, requiring attention to decoding, fluency, comprehension, writing, vocabulary, and engagement with challenging texts.
