The History of Writing and Reading – Part 7: The Olmec Writing System in Mesoamerica

[Editor’s note: This is the eighth of an ongoing series that examines the rise of writing – and therefore reading – around the world. We will be looking at the major developments and forces that shaped the written languages we use today. Links to all the previous posts are listed at the end of this … Continue reading “The History of Writing and Reading – Part 7: The Olmec Writing System in Mesoamerica”


The History of Writing and Reading – Part 6: Japanese Writing

[Editor’s note: This is the seventh of an ongoing series that examines the rise of writing – and therefore reading – around the world. We will be looking at the major developments and forces that shaped the written languages we use today. Links to all the previous posts are listed at the end of this … Continue reading “The History of Writing and Reading – Part 6: Japanese Writing”


The History of Writing and Reading – Part 2: Egyptian Forms

[Editor’s note: This is the second of an ongoing series that examines the rise of writing – and therefore reading – around the world. We will be looking at the major developments and forces that shaped the written languages we use today.] In Part 1 of this series, we looked at the very beginnings of … Continue reading “The History of Writing and Reading – Part 2: Egyptian Forms”


The History of Writing and Reading – Part 1: The Origins of Writing

[Editor’s note: This is the first of an ongoing series that examines the rise of writing – and therefore reading – around the world. We will be looking at the major developments and forces that shaped the written languages we use today.] Today, we take reading and writing for granted – we look at the … Continue reading “The History of Writing and Reading – Part 1: The Origins of Writing”


Critical Thinking and the Future of Reading

Over the years on this blog, we have addressed the critical need for critical thinking at all ages and levels of education, as well as the fact that while humans are hard-wired for speech, we are not hard-wired for reading and writing, which must be taught and learned. This past Saturday, the U.S. edition of … Continue reading “Critical Thinking and the Future of Reading”


Humans Hard-Wired for Speech but not for Reading and Writing

Humans communicate naturally by speech – that is to say, without any special training besides hearing individuals speak to each other. The reason is the structure of our brains. Researchers have shown that there are two specific centers in the human brain that oversee and control language acquisition; both are in the brain’s left hemisphere. … Continue reading “Humans Hard-Wired for Speech but not for Reading and Writing”


The ACT/SAT Exams as College and Career Readiness Predictors

Every year, millions of high school students across the United States take either the ACT or the SAT exam. Not only are they part of the admissions criteria at most colleges and universities, they are both looked at as ways to predict college and career readiness. Let’s take a look at some of the specifics. … Continue reading “The ACT/SAT Exams as College and Career Readiness Predictors”


Interview with Fiona Quinn – Reader, Writer, and Homeschool Mom (Part 2)

[Editor’s note: This interview was conducted by Miriam Ruff to trace one person’s path as a reader; to demonstrate the relationship between writing and reading; and to convey the experiences of a homeschool mom teaching her children the love of reading. It has been edited slightly for length, fluency, and clarity. To read Part 1, … Continue reading “Interview with Fiona Quinn – Reader, Writer, and Homeschool Mom (Part 2)”


Understanding Dyslexia – Part 2

[Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a four-part series on dyslexia. Links to the other parts are included in the blog.] In Part 1 of our discussion on dyslexia, we talked a little bit about the disorder and the difficulties dyslexics encounter when reading, spelling, and even verbalizing. Now we’re going to look at … Continue reading “Understanding Dyslexia – Part 2”