Too often, all elements of reading instruction are taught in a whole-class setting, regardless of individual student needs. While whole-class instruction is useful for building knowledge and for reading comprehension, it is markedly less effective — and less equitable — for developing word recognition skills. To ensure success, educators must implement two research-supported practices: small-group instruction and mastery learning.
This white paper unpacks the research behind each of these practices and explores how small-group, mastery-based instruction is a crucial missing ingredient in many core reading curricula.
Since the organization’s founding in 1980, our work has reached more than 8 million students and 328,000 teachers in classrooms across the country, developing fluent readers and skilled writers, supporting instructional equity, transforming discipline practices, and bolstering student and teacher engagement.
