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.
Studying the Science of Reading
Practice Assessment
A free online resource for pre-service and in-service teachers looking to build their knowledge of the science of reading.
Handwriting Assessments
Monitor your students’ handwriting development with our new eLearning content, printable assessment materials, and scoring guidelines.
Call for Proposals
Proposals for the 2026 Iowa Science of Reading Summit will be accepted until December 7, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
Blog
Literacy Is Every Subject—Social Studies
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Collaborative strategic reading (CSR) is a research-based, whole-group comprehension strategy that has been linked to improvements in comprehension of expository texts, such as those in social studies classes.
How Does Teachers’ Knowledge of Reading Contribute to Student Learning?
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
An overview of the research on teacher knowledge, the assessments used to measure it, and its impact on student literacy success.
Reconceptualizing Challenges as Learning Opportunities With Caleb Ferring
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Caleb Ferring is a teacher and wrestling coach in Waukon who discovered he had characteristics of dyslexia after taking the Iowa Reading Research Center’s Dyslexia Overview eLearning module.
News
New LIFTER Assessments Aim to Improve Student Handwriting Fluency
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
The Iowa Reading Research Center’s LIFTER (Letter Identification and Formation for Transcription and Early Reading) eLearning module and application now include handwriting assessments.
New Practice Assessment Strengthens Teacher Knowledge of the Science of Reading
Monday, August 18, 2025
The Iowa Reading Research Center's new practice assessment provides teachers with an opportunity to apply critical concepts from the science of reading.
New Tier 1.5 Calculator Supports Data-Based Decision-Making for Core Instruction
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
The IRRC's new online tool for assessing student instructional needs is now available.