Helping Students Read Better and Learn More

The Iowa Reading Research Center strives to improve the literacy skills of all students through research with students, professional learning for educators, and technical assistance for school districts.

Shawn Datchuk and Derek Rodgers present to an audience

Iowa Science of Reading Summit

Expand your knowledge of evidence-based instructional practices and the science of reading this July.

A cartoon depiction of a classroom

Understanding Your Student’s Literacy Data

The Educator Letter Builder and the Understanding Your Student’s Literacy Data eLearning module are two new resources to facilitate caregiver-educator communication about student assessment results.

A photo of four IRRC staff members and the text "join our team"

Employment Opportunities

The Iowa Reading Research Center is hiring an assistant research scientist and a postdoctoral research scholar.

Blog

Two students sit outside--one examines something with a magnifying glass, and the other takes notes in a journal

Literacy Is Every Subject

Thursday, March 27, 2025
Literacy skills, such as reading comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, and knowledge of text structures, are critical for students’ success in academic subjects.
An instructor points to text in a book as she reads aloud to a group of young students seated in front of her.

A Necessary Balancing Act—Fidelity and Contextual Fit

Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Fidelity and contextual fit are complementary considerations in evidence-based literacy instruction. This post introduces some strategies for improving intervention feasibility without sacrificing fidelity.
Two teachers examine student data on a computer

Data-Based Decision-Making for Core Instruction: Not Just for Intervention

Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Teachers can use data to guide instructional decisions in Tier 1 settings.

News

Homescreen of the Understanding Your Students Literacy Data eLearning Module

Introducing New Data Literacy Resources for Caregivers and Educators

Tuesday, February 18, 2025
The IRRC is releasing new resources to facilitate communication between teachers and caregivers about student literacy data.
Books of all colors are lined up in front of a green background.

Staff Picks: Book Series

Thursday, January 9, 2025
Our staff members share their favorite book series from childhood.
Girl writing at desk

National Novel Writing Month: Tips for Long-Form Writing

Wednesday, November 6, 2024
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)! Learn tips for staying motivated during long writing projects.