Raising Readers, Writers, and Spellers

Education

Tech Tools for Spelling May Stunt Children’s Literacy Growth

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on January 15, 2026

Elementary-school children may be harmed by overuse of tech tools for spelling. Literacy experts are calling for change and explicit spelling instruction in every classroom.

Elementary-school children may be harmed by overuse of tech tools for spelling. Literacy experts are calling for change and explicit spelling instruction in every classroom.

Cognition

Dyslexia: A Different Way of Thinking With Cognitive Strength

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on October 28, 2025

This tech team facilitator with dyslexia embraced and championed her cognitive gifts and achieved professional success.

This tech team facilitator with dyslexia embraced and championed her cognitive gifts and achieved professional success.

Career

How a Behavioral Scientist's Career Began in Kindergarten

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on July 1, 2025

A behavioral scientist shares how lessons from his former kindergarten teacher led to academic and career success, and positive personal habits.

A behavioral scientist shares how lessons from his former kindergarten teacher led to academic and career success, and positive personal habits.

Child Development

5 Phases Every Teacher of Beginning Literacy Should Know

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on May 30, 2025

Tracking phase development empowers parents and teachers of beginning literacy.

Tracking phase development empowers parents and teachers of beginning literacy.

Memory

Why the Human Brain Needs Spelling

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on January 14, 2025

Find out why teaching English spelling explicitly is essential for literacy and why shortchanging spelling instruction is harmful.

Find out why teaching English spelling explicitly is essential for literacy and why shortchanging spelling instruction is harmful.

Education

5 Reasons Every Child Should Learn Handwriting

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on June 18, 2024

4. Handwriting improves thinking. (Yours, too.)

4. Handwriting improves thinking. (Yours, too.)

Memory

Why America Still Can’t Read

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on May 23, 2024

Schools where spelling isn’t being taught will continue to have many students who struggle with reading.

Schools where spelling isn’t being taught will continue to have many students who struggle with reading.

Cognition

Celebrating Dyslexia as a Special Way of Thinking

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on May 7, 2024

Research shows that dyslexic people have five ways of thinking that are not only different from non-dyslexics but biologically engineered to benefit humanity.

Research shows that dyslexic people have five ways of thinking that are not only different from non-dyslexics but biologically engineered to benefit humanity.

Education

Elite Universities Call for Change in Reading Education

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on September 18, 2023

In a historic development, major universities are breaking away from decades of teacher training for reading that has been deemed harmful to children.

In a historic development, major universities are breaking away from decades of teacher training for reading that has been deemed harmful to children.

Education

Making the Most of Neuroscience for Teaching Reading

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on June 21, 2023

Something is worth learning if it affects the learner’s actual behavior and life outcomes. Perhaps nothing does that better than learning to read.

Something is worth learning if it affects the learner’s actual behavior and life outcomes. Perhaps nothing does that better than learning to read.

Education

5 Ways to Achieve Better Reading Outcomes Based on Science

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on February 27, 2023

An unrelenting Science of Reading movement is making headlines everywhere—in research reports, major newspapers, podcasts, and social media. Here’s what you should know.

An unrelenting Science of Reading movement is making headlines everywhere—in research reports, major newspapers, podcasts, and social media. Here’s what you should know.

Neuroscience

New Riveting Reports on Neuroscience, Dyslexia, and Reading

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on November 15, 2022

Reading theory and practice are coming together to help children both with and without dyslexia become better readers, writers, and spellers. There’s a call for change.

Reading theory and practice are coming together to help children both with and without dyslexia become better readers, writers, and spellers. There’s a call for change.

Resilience

Vulnerable Students Need Explicit Spelling Instruction

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on August 31, 2022

We must teach spelling to all students vulnerable to academic failure.

We must teach spelling to all students vulnerable to academic failure.

Memory

Is Your Second Grader Ready for Second Grade?

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on July 19, 2022

Here’s a quick check to see if a child who is just entering second grade has achieved grade level literacy expectations supported by developmental cognitive science.

Here’s a quick check to see if a child who is just entering second grade has achieved grade level literacy expectations supported by developmental cognitive science.

Neuroscience

K-1 Literacy Milestones Based on 5 Science-Based Facts

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on June 27, 2022

Do you know if your kindergartner or first grader is developing as expected as a reader, writer, and speller? Check these K-1 literacy milestones.

Do you know if your kindergartner or first grader is developing as expected as a reader, writer, and speller? Check these K-1 literacy milestones.

Resilience

New Study Highlights Integrating Spelling Instruction

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on May 5, 2022

Teaching spelling explicitly is a workable solution for addressing the current problem of reading failure in America. Spelling for learning to read begins in kindergarten.

Teaching spelling explicitly is a workable solution for addressing the current problem of reading failure in America. Spelling for learning to read begins in kindergarten.

Memory

What Your First Grader’s Writing Shows About Reading

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on November 7, 2021

Do you want to know if your first-grade child or student is on track for learning to read? Find out with a close look at the child's writing.

Do you want to know if your first-grade child or student is on track for learning to read? Find out with a close look at the child's writing.

Relationships

What Your Kindergartner’s Writing Shows About Reading

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on October 4, 2021

Want to know if your kindergartner or a kindergarten student is making progress on the pathway to literacy? Here's what you need to find out.

Want to know if your kindergartner or a kindergarten student is making progress on the pathway to literacy? Here's what you need to find out.

Memory

5 Practical Assessment Tips for Tutoring Struggling Readers

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on August 3, 2021

Do you want to know if a child is missing essential foundational literacy skills? Reading science and common sense come together in these quick assessments.

Do you want to know if a child is missing essential foundational literacy skills? Reading science and common sense come together in these quick assessments.

Education

Dyslexia and the Importance of Teaching Foundational Skills

J. Richard Gentry Ph.D. on May 19, 2021

America can fix an epidemic of failure surrounding dyslexia by teaching foundational reading, spelling, and handwriting skills.

America can fix an epidemic of failure surrounding dyslexia by teaching foundational reading, spelling, and handwriting skills.