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Sold a Story podcast

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Sold a Story

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  APM Reports  

Millions of kids can't read well. Scientists have known for decades how children learn to read, but many schools don’t know about the research. They buy teacher training and books that are rooted in a disproven idea. In Sold a Story, Emily Hanford investigates four authors and a publishing company that have made millions selling this idea. The podcast has won some of the biggest awards in journalism. Twenty-five states (and counting) have changed their reading laws because of it. Now, Apple Podcasts has recognized Sold a Story as a Series Essential. To celebrate, we’re making it available without ads or other announcements for a limited time.

Millions of kids can't read well. Scientists have known for decades how children learn to read, but many schools don’t know about the research. They buy teacher training and books that are rooted in a disproven idea. In Sold a Story, Emily Hanford investigates four authors and a publishing company that have made millions selling this idea. The podcast has won some of the biggest awards in journalism. Twenty-five states (and counting) have changed their reading laws because of it. Now, Apple Podcasts has recognized Sold a Story as a Series Essential. To celebrate, we’re making it available without ads or other announcements for a limited time.

 

All

Progress

Duration

Release Date

#17

The podcast that's changing education

Nationally acclaimed journalist Emily Hanford's work is changing the ways schools around the country teach reading. In this award-winning podcast, she investigates why so many schools use an approach that cognitive scientists debunked decades ago. Apple Podcasts has recognized Sold a Story as a Series Essential. To celebrate, we’re making it available without ads or other announcements for a limited time. Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support: [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn) More: [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral) Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

01 Nov 2024

03 MINS

03:14

01 Nov 2024

#16

10: The Details

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 in schools — and share some of their hopes and concerns about the “science of reading” movement.   Portraits: [Zoe and Lee Gaul, Christine Cronin, Reid Lyon] (https://www.apmreports.org/story/2024/04/11/theres-a-thoughtfulness-about-reading-in-the-country-today?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Email us: [soldastory@apmreports.org] (mailto:soldastory@apmreports.org)   Video: [Mark Seidenberg at Yale] (https://seidenbergreading.net/2023/12/23/recorded-version-of-yale-talk/)  Article: [Seidenberg on translating the science] (https://seidenbergreading.net/2023/03/31/about-the-science-in-the-science-of-reading/)  Article: [Lyon’s most important findings] (https://readinguniverse.org/article/explore-teaching-topics/big-picture/10-maxims-the-research-support) Read: [Transcript of this episode] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2024/04/11/sold-a-story-e10-the-details?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Donate: [Support APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn)  More: [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)   Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) .  ... Read more

11 Apr 2024

31 MINS

31:15

11 Apr 2024

#15

9: The Aftermath

Schools around the country are changing the way they teach reading. And that is having major consequences for people who sold the flawed idea we investigated in Sold a Story. But Lucy Calkins, Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell are fighting back — and fighting to stay relevant. And so are organizations that promoted their work: the Reading Recovery Council of North America and the publisher Heinemann.  Read: [Two universities stick with a discredited idea] (https://www.apmreports.org/story/2024/04/04/retraining-science-of-reading-ohio-state-lesley-university?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)   -  [Transcript of this episode] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2024/04/04/sold-a-story-e9-the-aftermath?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  -  [Donate to APM] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn)  - [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) -  [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)   Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) .  ... Read more

04 Apr 2024

27 MINS

27:35

04 Apr 2024

#14

Introducing: Sold a Story en español

A Spanish adaptation of Sold a Story is now available. Hosted by journalist Valeria Fernández, the podcast is condensed into one 58-minute episode, plus a conversation between Fernández and Emily Hanford for Spanish-speaking parents whose children are learning to read English in American schools. - Listen or share:  [Sold a Story en español] (https://link.chtbl.com/SaSenespanol) - Learn more:  [soldastory.es] (http://soldastory.es/) ... Read more

19 Mar 2024

06 MINS

06:19

19 Mar 2024

#13

8: The Impact

Across the country, school districts are dropping textbooks, state legislatures are going so far as to ban teaching methods, and everyone, it seems, is talking about "the science of reading." Things have been changing since Sold a Story was released. In this episode, we tell you about some of the changes and what we think about them.   Read: [Legislators look to change reading instruction] (https://www.apmreports.org/story/2023/05/18/legislators-reading-laws-sold-a-story?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  More: [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)   [Donate to support ] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-web) [Sold a Story] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-web) and other journalism from APM Reports.  EXTENDED READING  Blog:  [Seidenberg on translating research into practice] (https://seidenbergreading.net/2023/03/31/about-the-science-in-the-science-of-reading/)  Article:  [Goldenberg, Goldberg on premortem] (https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/trtr.2079)  (paywall) |  [Excerpt] (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23815778-premortem-sidebar-from-lessons-learned_-reading-wars-reading-first-and-a-way-forward-1)   Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) .  ... Read more

18 May 2023

24 MINS

24:33

18 May 2023

#12

7: Your Words

Voicemails, emails, tweets: We got a lot of messages from people after they heard Sold a Story. In this episode, we bring you some of their voices. A 10-year-old figures out why he has struggled to read. A mom stays up late to binge the podcast. A teacher confirms what he's suspected for years — he's not really teaching kids how to read.    Read: [Messages from our listeners] (https://www.apmreports.org/story/2023/05/11/sold-a-story-messages-from-listeners?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  More: [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)   Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) [Donate to support ] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-web) [Sold a Story] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-web) and other journalism from APM Reports.  Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

11 May 2023

25 MINS

25:10

11 May 2023

#11

Brains On: How Do We Learn to Read — and Why is It Hard?

This week we have an episode of a show called Brains On. It’s a science podcast for kids from our colleagues at APM. In this episode, Emily joins the Brains On hosts to talk about how people learn to read. Grab the kids in your life and listen to this special episode made for kids and curious adults. More: [brainson.org] (https://www.brainson.org/) Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support our show:  [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn) Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at  [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

11 Apr 2023

37 MINS

37:51

11 Apr 2023

#10

What the Words Say

There are kids like C.J. all over the country. Schools tell their parents they are reading at grade level, but the kids are not. And whether they ever get the help they need can depend a lot on their family income and their race. In this documentary, originally published in August 2020, host Emily Hanford shows that America’s approach to reading instruction is having an especially devastating impact on children of color. Read more: [Children of color are far less likely to get the help they need] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2020/08/06/what-the-words-say?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral) Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support this show:  [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn) Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at  [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

06 Apr 2023

53 MINS

53:04

06 Apr 2023

#9

At a Loss for Words: What's Wrong with How Schools Teach Reading

Molly Woodworth had a secret: She couldn’t read very well. She fought her way through text by looking at the first letter of a word and thinking of something that made sense.  Reading was slow and laborious. Then she learned that her daughter's school was actually teaching kids to read that way. In this documentary, originally published in August 2019, host Emily Hanford reveals that many kids are being taught the habits of struggling readers. Winner of a Gracie Award and finalist for an EWA Public Service Award.   Read more: [How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2019/08/22/whats-wrong-how-schools-teach-reading?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral) Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support this show:  [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn) Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at  [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

30 Mar 2023

53 MINS

53:19

30 Mar 2023

#8

Hard Words: Why Aren't Our Kids Being Taught to Read?

Jack Silva had a problem. He was the chief academic officer of a school district in Pennsylvania, and more than 40% of the kids in his district were not proficient readers. He didn't know much about how kids learn to read, but he knew he had to figure it out. Originally published in September 2018, this documentary helped ignite a national conversation about the science of reading. Winner of an EWA Public Service Award. Read more:  [Why aren't kids being taught to read?] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2018/09/10/hard-words-why-american-kids-arent-being-taught-to-read?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral) Read in Spanish: [Translation by Aptus] (https://www.aptus.org/publicacion/articulo-duras-palabras-por-que-no-se-les-ensena-a-leer-a-los-ninos/) Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support this show:  [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn) Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at  [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

23 Mar 2023

52 MINS

52:20

23 Mar 2023

#7

Hard to Read: How American Schools Fail Kids with Dyslexia

The parents knew something wasn’t right. The school said everything would be fine. But their kids weren’t learning how to read. In this documentary, originally published in September 2017, we look at why kids with dyslexia have a hard time getting the help they need in school. Read more: [How American schools fail kids with dyslexia] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2017/09/11/hard-to-read?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral) Q&A: [What is dyslexia, with neuroscientist Guinevere Eden] (https://www.apmreports.org/story/2017/09/11/what-is-dyslexia-guinevere-eden?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral) Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support this show:  [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn) Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at  [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

16 Mar 2023

53 MINS

53:35

16 Mar 2023

#6

6: The Reckoning

Lucy Calkins says she has learned from the science of reading. She's revised her materials. Fountas and Pinnell have not revised theirs. Their publisher, Heinemann, is still selling some products to teach reading that contain debunked practices. Parents, teachers and lawmakers want answers.  Map: [How states approach reading instruction] (https://www.apmreports.org/story/2022/11/17/reading-instruction-legislation-state-map?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Organize: [Sold a Story] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/discussion-guide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral) [ discussion guide] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/discussion-guide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Read: [Transcript of this episode] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2022/11/17/sold-a-story-e6-the-reckoning?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support: [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn)  More: [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  En español: [soldastory.es] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/es/)   Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

17 Nov 2022

42 MINS

42:07

17 Nov 2022

#5

5: The Company

Teachers call books published by Heinemann their bibles. The company's products are in schools all over the country. Some of the products used to teach reading are rooted in a debunked idea about how children learn to read. But they've made the company and some of its authors millions.  Map: [Heinemann’s national reach] (https://www.apmreports.org/story/2022/11/10/heinemann-sales-by-school-district?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Read: [Transcript of this episode] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2022/11/10/sold-a-story-e5-the-company?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support: [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn)  More: [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  En español: [soldastory.es] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/es/)   Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

10 Nov 2022

47 MINS

47:24

10 Nov 2022

#4

4: The Superstar

Teachers sing songs about Lucy Calkins. The longtime professor at Columbia University’s Teachers College is one of the most influential people in American elementary education today. Her admirers call her books bibles. Why didn't she know that scientific research contradicted reading strategies she promoted?  Read: [Transcript of this episode] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2022/11/03/sold-a-story-e4-the-superstar?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support: [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn)  More: [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  En español: [soldastory.es] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/es/)   Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

03 Nov 2022

33 MINS

33:42

03 Nov 2022

#3

3: The Battle

President George W. Bush made improving reading instruction a priority. He got Congress to provide money to schools that used reading programs supported by scientific research. But backers of Marie Clay’s ideas saw Bush’s Reading First initiative as a threat.  Read: [Transcript of this episode] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2022/10/27/sold-a-story-e3-the-battle?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support: [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn)  More: [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  En español: [soldastory.es] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/es/)   Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) .  ... Read more

27 Oct 2022

41 MINS

41:22

27 Oct 2022

#2

2: The Idea

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 help again. Today, her program remains popular, and her theory about how people read is at the root of a lot of reading instruction in schools. But Marie Clay was wrong.   Read: [Emily Hanford’s reading list] (https://www.apmreports.org/story/2022/10/20/science-of-reading-list?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Read: [Transcript of this episode] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2022/10/20/sold-a-story-e2-the-idea?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support: [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-sn)  More: [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral)  En español: [soldastory.es] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/es/)   Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

20 Oct 2022

51 MINS

51:24

20 Oct 2022

#1

1: The Problem

Lee Gaul watches his daughter’s lessons during Zoom school and discovers a dismaying truth: She can't read. Little Zoe isn't the only one. Sixty-five percent of fourth graders in the United States are not proficient readers. Kids need to learn specific skills to become good readers, and in many schools, those skills are not being taught. Read: [Emily Hanford’s reading list] (https://www.apmreports.org/story/2022/10/20/science-of-reading-list?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral) Read: [Transcript of this episode] (https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2022/10/20/sold-a-story-e1-the-problem?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral) Watch: [The story behind Sold a Story] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAxCgFDuLQ) Support: [Donate to APM Reports] (https://support.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story-web) More: [soldastory.org] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral) En español: [soldastory.es] (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/es/) Sold a Story is proud to be an Apple Podcasts Series Essential. To celebrate, we’re making it available without ads or other announcements for a limited time. Dive deeper into Sold a Story with a multi-part email series from host Emily Hanford. We’ll also keep you up to date on new episodes. Sign up at [soldastory.org/extracredit] (https://cloud.connect.americanpublicmedia.org/sold-a-story) . ... Read more

20 Oct 2022

32 MINS

32:48

20 Oct 2022