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.
Literacy LIFTER
Literacy LIFTER is a free tool designed to empower educators and caregivers in supporting students’ handwriting and early reading skills.
Become a School or District Partner
The Iowa Reading Research Center provides research and technical assistance services to schools and districts in Iowa at no cost.
New Director Selected for IRRC
Dr. Shawn Datchuk's leadership and expertise will help the IRRC advance its mission of improving children’s reading proficiency in Iowa.
Blog
Reading Assessments and Their Purposes
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Throughout the school year, your child’s teacher may use universal screeners, diagnostic assessments, progress monitoring, and more to gain a deeper understanding of how to best support your child’s literacy development.
Research Article of the Month: September 2024
Thursday, September 12, 2024
We summarize the findings of January & Klingbeil (2020)—a study that examines the validity of early reading CBMs in identifying at-risk students in Grades K–2.
How to Make the Most of Teacher Professional Development
Monday, August 26, 2024
Dr. Lisa Didion is an assistant professor of special education who studies data literacy and teacher professional development. In this Q&A, Didion provides research-based tips for planning professional development that is beneficial for teachers.
Research Article of the Month: August 2024
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
In their meta-analysis, Didion et al. (2019) find that teacher PD generally has a positive effect on student reading achievement in Grades K–8.
Handwriting: Beneficial to Reading and Often Misunderstood
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Handwriting can support early reading skills. This post explains why and describes several techniques teachers can use to help their students acquire handwriting.
Research Article of the Month: June 2024
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Through this breakdown of Ray et al. (2021), we explore the benefits of handwriting intervention on foundational reading skills.
Research Article of the Month: May 2024
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
We explore the findings of Silverman et al. (2020) as they examine the effects of explicit language comprehension on various language and literacy outcomes.
Strategies for Effective Tier 1 Grouping and Differentiation
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
When teachers use data to guide instructional grouping, students can receive targeted, differentiated instruction that meets their needs.
Speaking of Podcasts: Four SLP and Literacy-Based Podcasts Worth a Listen
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
The IRRC’s assistive technology coordinators discuss some of their favorite podcasts on the intersection of speech, language, and literacy.
Research Article of the Month: April 2024
Monday, April 29, 2024
Training in self-regulation has been shown to improve strategy use and reading comprehension outcomes. Denton et al. (2021) examine the feasibility of a reading intervention with a strong self-regulation component.
News
Four Ways to Celebrate Dyslexia Awareness Month
Monday, October 7, 2024
We provide ideas of ways to be involved in Dyslexia Awareness Month this October.
New Handwriting and Early Reading Tool Available for Teachers and Caregivers on IRRC Website
Monday, July 22, 2024
University of Iowa College of Education faculty and Iowa Reading Research Center staff have created a new online handwriting tool for early readers and writers.
A Tale of Three Districts
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Districts in Iowa are making strides in adopting new English language arts materials and implementing structured literacy practices.
Iowa Department of Education, University of Iowa Announce New Iowa Reading Research Center Director
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Dr. Shawn Datchuk's leadership and expertise will help the IRRC advance its mission of improving children’s reading proficiency in Iowa.
Staff Picks: Book-to-Movie Adaptations
Friday, May 10, 2024
Our staff at the Iowa Reading Research Center has compiled a list of our favorite books that have been adapted into movies, including novels, chapter books, and picture books.
Cacini, Schloss, and Smithgall Recognized for Their Work as IRRC Student Employees
Friday, April 12, 2024
The University of Iowa recognizes students for their work on campus every spring during Student Employee Appreciation Week.
Six More Educators Earn Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement
Monday, February 12, 2024
Take a deeper look into the IRRC-coordinated Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement program and read about the experience of one newly endorsed dyslexia specialist, Barb Shutt.
IRRC Advisory Council: VanZuiden Elected as Chair, Cole and Pruitt Appointed as Members
Monday, January 8, 2024
Learn about the new chair and two new members of the IRRC Advisory Council.
Educators Discover Science of Reading Through Summit and Podcast
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
The Iowa Science of Reading Summit and A Novel Idea podcast connect educators through conversations about effective approaches to reading instruction.
Book Recommendations About and for Children With Dyslexia and Their Caregivers
Monday, October 2, 2023
To celebrate Dyslexia Awareness Month, our assistive technology coordinators have curated a list of books by and about individuals with dyslexia.