Sold a Story

Millions of kids can't read well. Scientists have known for decades how children learn to read but many schools are ignoring the research. They buy teacher training and books that are rooted in a disproven idea. Emily Hanford investigates four authors and a publishing company that have made millions selling this idea.

17 episodes transcribed
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Society & Culture

10: The Details

Episode Date: April 11, 2024

Some of the teachers, students, parents and researchers we met in Sold a Story talk about the impact the podcast has had on their lives and i...

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Society & Culture

5: The Company

Episode Date: November 10, 2022

Teachers call books published by Heinemann their "bibles." The company's products are in schools all over the country. Some of...

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Society & Culture

4: The Superstar

Episode Date: November 3, 2022

Teachers sing songs about Teachers College Columbia professor Lucy Calkins. She’s one of the most influential people in American elementary e...

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Society & Culture

3: The Battle

Episode Date: October 27, 2022

President George W. Bush made improving reading instruction a priority. He got Congress to provide money to schools that used reading program...

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2: The Idea

Episode Date: October 20, 2022

Sixty years ago, Marie Clay developed a way to teach reading she said would help kids who were falling behind. They’d catch up and never need...

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Society & Culture

1: The Problem

Episode Date: October 20, 2022

Corinne Adams watches her son's lessons during Zoom school and discovers a dismaying truth: He can't read. Little Charlie isn't t...