I was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child. I went through countless reading programs and my parents to me to multiple doctors to figure out how to help me with dyslexia. Last year, at the age of 33, l graduated with a masters in speech sound disorders. Next month I will graduate from a clinical fellow to a full on SLP. I say all this because dyslexia is a phonemic sound disorder. Teaching kids to "guess" what they think the word is- is like teaching kids to become dyslexic. As a dyslexic student, I would "guess the word. I would not decode it, which lead to me not reading the word. Which then lead to reading comprehension difficulties. I am beyond happy to hear that people are starting to do their own research when it comes to reading programs because at the end of the day if we want our students to learn, to be better - we as educators need to DO better. I LOVE how this episode shines a light on the fact that children want to read but don't because of their struggles with decoding. I hope that more people listen to the science.

Awesome series, I am dyslexic and hated to read. My third grade teacher identified the issue and we worked on phonics and within six months I was reading everything in sight. Schools do not teach phonics, reading, and comprehension. Your series was on point and reinforced the need for phonics. Have you talked to Mississippi Department of Education? Their national test scores went from almost dead last to the top. I’m 72 years old and I cannot get over the number of kids that cannot do simple math or read.

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I found this by happenstance when I saw an article about Steubenville’s success in a newspaper I couldn’t access. Knowing of the town via the Catholic university there, I was intrigued and thought, there must be a podcast about this. And this is it! I’m a behavior analyst and although I don’t teach reading, direct instruction is a behavioral pedagogy which we learned in our pedagogy class in grad school. My husband and his entire family is dyslexic. My son who is in second grade, has lots of difficulty with reading and writing. He goes to catholic school, which uses lots of phonics based instruction. I was actually upset they didn’t use leveled readers when he started there because that’s what I had known the public schools used when I worked in them. I now know why they don’t use them. However some teachers there have worked in public school and do inadvertently use cuing methods. I was wondering why he kept looking at the picture! He enjoyed listening to this podcast with me. I’m looking into getting certified in Orton Gillingham. My cousin is in college for her teaching degree at a state university in MA and she sent me a pic of the first chapter in her teaching reading to ELs text…. It said look at the picture. Ugh! Still lots of work to do. Thank you for all your hard work detailing this national tragedy.

Wow, I have never left a review for any podcast, ever. I scoured the internet for a place to thank you!! By the 6th episode I was in tears. Having 2 struggling readers this podcast put everything into place. Our kids have had incredible teachers who have loved and supported them but it just wasn’t working! Both of our kids have IEP’s. I was going through old paperwork last week noticing that in K/1st our kids were “on level” but by 2nd 3rd grade were so far behind I would lay awake at night worrying. For our daughter reading finally clicked around the end of 5th grade. Our son is still struggling. We are doing dyslexia tutoring and it finally seems to be helping. THANK you for this work. Our massive district (Indianapolis Public Schools) changed the reading curriculum last year. Hoping other children won’t have the same struggles moving forward.

The teachers trusted authority without question. Those that wanted change eventually quit because there was/is no support from the decision makers. Critical thinking skills and intuition need support, autonomy, and choice. Every person deserves this. I wonder how many adults are relying on images for information these days….

I had two different friends share this podcast with me. I took my children out of public school and began educating them at home several years ago. My oldest told me he was not really taught letter sounds… fast forward to today- all of my children are readers today. So eye opening…

Fascinating report. We all learned a second language in high school or college and were told how the letters “sound” different in the new language. I hope she investigates math next. How can college students not know basic math facts?

I was astounded to hear how reading is taught, has been taught and how those ways have ruined lives. I recommend this to every parent and teacher. I was near tears hearing what harm was done in the name of well intended teaching. We need to go back to teaching the sounds letters make and not discard the phonics. Amazing series. Thank you.

This entire series should have been boiled down to 3 or 4 shows — at the most. It’s packed with the needless quotes and pointless puffery.

The first lines of the first episode hooked me and by the last episode, I scanned my personal literacy library for Heinemann titles (I have at least one). While I am a high school English teacher, this series gives me a foundation to make sense of my lower-level readers’ struggles.

My sis was not taught phonics though she was taught it in fifth grade and now she is an amazing reader and she likes it I’m glad she did not suffer and I’m sad that some kids do [ 1. ] 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥹🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺|||| - :3

I learned a lot. Going to donate to APM. I also really liked the music.

Great investigative story telling. And wonderful to be seeing actual results in the real world based on the research detailed here. The kids who are finally able to LEARN to read are the real winners here.

First of all, the author does a great job illustrating the problem of teaching reading in America. She does a brilliant job focusing on some of the movements that led to the decline of reading programs in American schools. This podcast is something that school boards, teachers, administrators, and parents need to listen to in order to understand how the problem began. For centuries, phonics was a basic and integral part of teaching kids how to read. However, new fad programs were introduced and sold to schools. Forget the politics, let’s do the best job we can for our kids.

The story is so well written and woven together. One could almost turn it into a miniseries on Netflix. I thought English has a second language in an adult education school that shared facilities with an elementary. I was interested in the whole language movement, which I feel is very relevant to language learning. Through the New Zealand model, I began to integrate the concepts of whole language into my classroom. This worked with much success.. However, I watched as the system was basically forced on elementary school teachers. I was intrigued by the latest episodes dropped in March and the comments that for phonics to work, one has to Have language. I feel that a whole language environment is the natural environment in which language is developed, be at a first language or additional languages. There is a lot of debate over this, the nature of first and additional language learning. I appreciate the emphasis on language development as a prerequisite to using phonics.

I learned to read early. It’s been a long time but perhaps I had already learned how to read when I switched schools to one using phonics. I remember struggling with phonics not reading. If anything turned me off school & reading it was phonics. Perhaps different people learn differently. Certainly if you speak primarily to folks unhappy with an approach they are more likely to praise the alternate approach. I have no financial or professional interest in either approach but I did switch approaches decades ago when I switched schools & I was so glad when we moved & I could get away from phonics.

I want to share this with everyone I know. It made me angry and sad and raring to do something about it. Thank you, Emily and team, you are making a difference.

We were told our son needed a neuropsych in 1st grade because he couldn’t read. Instead we hired a phonics tutor. She had him improved by 5 grade levels in 15 months. This story is so important.

This was an easy listen. Very informative

Such great journalism coving such an important topic!

Every reading teacher in America should at least give this a listen. We often don’t have a lot of choice in what we teach. However, when we know what’s right for kids, we always do what we’re supposed to do. This podcast allows you to be much more informed and I hope you will take every opportunity to do more research into every program you teach.

As someone who struggled to read as a kid, I wish someone would share this knowledge with the adults around me. As a child, I would hear my teacher say don't guess then tell me to look at the picture which made me guess even more. I cried a lot over reading. I found this podcast looking for away to help my 5 year old learn to read. Thank you for this knowledge! I will now go teach my 5yr old to read.

top rate journalism, incredible documentary, interesting listening

👀Who else binge listened??? LOL!

The podcast convinced me and gave me talking points.

Every educator and parent of young learners should listen to this podcast. Emily brilliantly brings to light the disastrous effects of Lucy Calkins literacy methods. She also highlights the creation of reading programs that actually work and change the lives of our children. The best educational podcast series I’ve listened to.

I’m abandoning this podcast after 6 episodes. The information is mostly anecdotal, extremely one-sided, and villainizing. I learned to read with phonics. I’ve taught my children to be excellent readers through an emphasis on phonics and a never-ending quest to expose them to books they find enthralling and interesting. Not really rocket science. What really angered me is the countless stories from parents demanding justice and accountability, and borderline criminalizing Lucy Caulkins and Marie Clay. How about some personal accountability? How on earth did you all NOT know your own children couldn’t read for so long? Let’s remind ourselves that WE are accountable and responsible for the education of our children. And the excuse that affluent parents hire tutors to accomplish this education is really ridiculous. I’m a middle-class, working parent, and somehow found the time to prioritize laying a solid foundation for my children and putting forth the effort to read to them and teach them. The schools simply augment this foundation, but I am responsible.

This is so important for teachers to listen to. I recommend it constantly and it’s impacted how I teach my students. I always knew I didn’t like LC.

Please read criticism of this podcast. They are doing the ‘trump’- accuse and label others of exactly what you are guilty of. If you swallow this very one sided podcast, you are being ‘sold a story’. No interviewing of anyone who disagrees. Bush’s support of what she’s selling tells it all. Profit! Over truth.

This is sooooo very refreshing! To hear the story of families that have worked through these challenges are inspiring. Even more so the reporters that have dug into the core of the failure of the system. This shows the value of long Journalism. This knowledge cannot be transferred in 3 mins or less. I’d buy this as a book but love the podcast

WOW! It’s shocking that this charade has gone on for so long unquestioned and supported by massive public dollars. As others said, it’s up to parents to recognize what’s missing in their kids’ basic education- you don’t need a PhD to know if they can read. This is the most critical skill imaginable for success in life! It reminds me of similar areas of cognitive dissonance in medicine that have been perpetuated- that eating fat makes you fat, that LDL creates heart disease, etc. Bad ideas just live on until we wise up and take control of our own lives.

I’m artistic. I love almost anything even more as it relates to art in the simplest way. I’ve already been through some episodes of ‘Sold a Story’. In process I’ve learned so much of the norm, is actually not normal for so many. It is sometimes crushing. It’s the weight that I feel in my heart. There’s an artist sketch promoting this episode. A picture of a girl with head slightly down as a woman tends to her hair, while other students are in background. The episode speaks of their uniqueness. And abnormal differences of a community as they strive and achieve greatness. Many sacrifices are made from different worlds of neighbors. It is something that comes together for the greater good. There’s a saying for it … “IT TAKES A VILLAGE”. It’s a beautiful thing. All you need add, is ‘WILL’ - s.jxn - ga

Every parent and teacher should listen to this.

I am not a teacher, nor do I have kids, but the idea that this is being debated over in schools is beyond me. This podcast is incredibly well researched and detailed and it’s presented in such a way that’s both so informative and entertaining. I’m so happy these issues (that I didn’t even know about) are being brought to light!

Teaching children is primarily a parental responsibility. The reading conspiracy discussed in “Sold a Story” is why delegating to government offers uniformity in mediocrity and even failure. This is why there needs to be competition via school choice. Government is not god but has its proper place. The current approach with government de facto monopoly on K-12 education does not work. I’m certain the moral teaching in our education system leads to narcissistic thinking and behavior. Teacher unions lead to the statist approach which caused Reading Recovery take over. Unions resist change. The idea that left thinking is enlightened and right thinking is backward is false. Both approaches can be change oriented and at other times conservative. This has nothing to do with political party but rather lack of constructive feedback and truthful critiques. The important thing to remember is change is constantly happening and seeking wisdom on the right path to navigate it is key. The are no easy answers. Corruption happens when the powerful believe they can manipulate people to maintain their position instead of serving people with what’s best for them. Your reporting is very good. I once ran the operations of a hazardous waste tsdf (treatment storage disposal facility) in the early 90’s. Half my operators couldn’t read at a 3rd grade level. I tried to get them help by teaming with a remedial reading group as I took my new job. My employer offered lukewarm support, sadly we had so many issues operating because the workforce could not read, the facility was shutdown in 8 months. I told them to fix the issues but they didn’t. Hundreds lost their jobs. I quickly left to get an MBA in order to transition into another industry. That company no longer exists, thankfully they are out of business.

How have all these legislators, educators, teachers, and civilians in this podcast, ALREADY heard this podcast? Then have time to write in letters, make legislation changes, and do all the progress we hear about in the later episodes? The first episode just released in the beginning of March 2025.

Extremely informative and constructive podcast of significant value for readers. This shared and balanced information with the public needs to continue to be heard and shared! Why? The value of reading and writing has never been more important. Thank you for all that you are doing and please continue to contribute to this valuable discussion. Extraordinary, well-done!

This podcast is CRAZY!! It wasn’t until my family moved to Rapid City South Dakota that my parents found out I could read, except for very short words. I was in 4th grade!! I learned to get by and not standout by “cheating” and going to the LD class. My tutor in South Dakota was from Boston and she was amazing!! I love to read but I still have issues reading out loud and breaking down words. I did graduate from college but not before diagnosed with adhd and taking remedial English class in college. Your show has struck a cord and I’m very upset with the federal school system for being so uncaring about our children’s reading education!! If you can read and read well you can go anywhere and do anything!! I made sure my children learned to read and they do love to read!! Thank you!!

Thank you for your journalism. Within the first explanation of Marie Clay’s theory, I thought to myself how stupid the theory sounded. I thought, Learning to sound out words in the early stages of learning would have to be the link to creating an inner voice from the letters on the page.

As a former elementary teacher that studied in the 2010s and worked in two different districts - one affluent, one low income, I can’t tell you how important this podcast has been to me. I have lived with guilt for not seeing much reading improvement with my young students in either school, and this podcast has both unburdened and empowered me. You don’t know what you don’t know, and you are ABSOLUTELY sold a story about how great the whole language and guided reading approaches are. It was all I was taught and all I was given as a young teacher. Thank you for this gift and please continue the good work!

Iove this podcast

WOW. To me the bottom line is, your child’s education cannot be entrusted to anyone but you. It is the wrong approach to think, “I’ll send my kid to school and it’s their job to teach them math and reading”. You have no IDEA what goes on in there until a pandemic hits and you can see what these people are actually doing. The fact that tens of thousands of teachers fell for this charlatan nonsense, never questioned, sent kids home illiterate, and those parents never noticed until kids were 6+ years is astonishing. Parents should all be teaching their children to read and do math at home, as early as 3 years. Should the world be this way? No. But it is this way - protect your child. Be the teacher first and think of school as extra.

Please keep researching and telling us all the stories we are sold on, even though it hurts. We all need to know!

It’s to boring for me but it’s a good podcast

This is fascinating and thorough and very very important. I teach in a South Carolina public school, and my students’ inability to read and wright is heartbreaking. My district finally stopped F&P last year and I’m disgusted to think about the amount of money and time was wasted on all of this. Thank you so very much for this work and please continue to investigate education!

Thank you for this podcast. It has really opened my eyes. I have been an elementary/middle school teacher since 2006. I have a masters in reading and writing, yet I feel I have learned more from your podcast. I have experience teaching LLI and worked in the same shared room with two other teachers who taught reading recovery. They still do. I stopped teaching LLI when I became discouraged with the program. Students were not growing in LLI, and I had a student that was diagnosed with dyslexia shortly after working with her. I feel terrible that I didn’t truly help these students. The reading crisis is on fire in my district. I am trying to learn and become a better teacher. Your podcast is so interesting, and I feel I have learned so much, and have a desire to learn more about how students learn to read. Thank you!

I was born & raised till the age of 6 in Peru. I learned to read through phonetics in Spanish. I came to the US in 2002. Had to re do Kindergarten in English & learned to read in English with phonetics first. Had a great teacher Mrs. Harris. I can’t believe people don’t logically understand how phonetics is the key to reading & spelling. Without phonetics how do we figure out how to read more complex words in more advanced literature? It makes no sense to look at pictures for clues when many books are picture-less. The fact that reading became a partisan issue is beyond ridiculous. People who strongly identify with one political party & reject everything & anything need critical help. I don’t care where in the political spectrum someone is as long as the science, facts & the obvious logic make clear sense. Some people really rather believe that sky is green than be wrong!

The reporting is unparalleled to anything else on this topic. If you’re curious about why kids struggle to read in America; this podcast has good, credible answers. I didn’t know there were ‘Reading Wars’ in this country but it makes sense. It’s an unfortunate case of educators hanging on to a belief system and not wanting to look at the science of how people become “good readers”. Everybody needs this to hear this reporting.

This is such a wonderful masterpiece of thoughtful, relentless investigation into the single most important topic in a civilized society. As a teacher and instructional coach, I feel validated and invigorated. I’ve already got the reading department at the district office I serve rumbling. I hope it’s the start of a continued exploration into what actually works for kids. Thank you for your sacrifice, Emily and Chris!