Everything on ELAwise

Three free, powerful habits that lay the groundwork for everything else — before phonics programs, before screeners, before any formal support.

What decades of reading research actually say — the five pillars of literacy instruction and how they work together to build skilled readers.

Two of the most important models in reading science explained for parents: Scarborough's Reading Rope and orthographic mapping — how words become automatic.

Why talking with your child is just as powerful as reading to them — plus how world knowledge and listening comprehension are the hidden engines behind strong reading.

What to expect at every stage — from birth through Grade 4 — across phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

How working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control are directly wired into literacy — and what it looks like when these skills are weak.

Decode the reports that come home. What DIBELS, Acadience, ORF scores, and dyslexia screeners actually measure — and how to interpret what your child's results mean.

Practical, research-backed activities for each literacy skill area — what you can do at home when your child is struggling, by skill and age.

How writing and reading reinforce each other — and what healthy writing development looks like from scribbling to paragraphs, grade by grade.

Advanced concepts for curious parents — sight words demystified, why cueing systems are harmful, and what structured literacy really means.

Curated books, programs, screener tools, and trusted organizations — vetted against the science of reading so you don't have to sort through the noise.

Answers to the questions parents ask most often — from where to start on this site, to understanding assessments, to knowing when to seek help.

Who made this guide, why it exists, and the research frameworks and key researchers it is built on.