Reading Rockets is a national multimedia project offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.

The Reading Rockets project is comprised of PBS television programs, available on videotape and DVD; online services, including the web sites ReadingRockets.org and ColorinColorado.org; and professional development opportunities. Reading Rockets is an educational initiative of WETA, the flagship public television and radio station in the nation's capital, and is funded by a major grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

Click below for information on our:

• Advisors
• Partners
• Funders
• WETA and Learning Media
• Staff
• Awards

You'll also find the following:

• Reading Rockets In Action
• Press Room
• Link to Us
• Jobs
• Contact Us

Reading Rockets aims to inform and inspire parents, teachers, childcare providers, administrators, and others who touch the life of a child by providing accurate, accessible information on how to teach kids to read and help those who struggle. The project is guided by an advisory panel made up of leading researchers and experts in the field of reading. We produce and distribute research-based PBS television programs, online services, and professional development opportunities, which are available at no cost.

The Reading Rockets project is described in a five-minute audio segment on the national radio series The Parent's Journal With Bobbi Conner. The interview is with Noel Gunther, executive director of Reading Rockets.

• Listen to audio segment§

Our mission

The National Institutes of Health estimates that one in five children has serious difficulties learning to read. These children are potentially among the most troubled kids in society. With early identification and a lot of help, however, children who struggle to read can flourish; without it they are at risk for failure in school and in life.

Since 1965, the federal government has invested more than $100 million to find out why so many children have problems learning to read and what can be done. Thanks to that research, we now know how to identify children at risk and how to help them before they fail. Reading Rockets' mission is to take that research-based and best-practice information and make it available to as many people as possible through the power and reach of television and the Internet.

Projects

Reading Rockets creates and disseminates information about reading through our major projects, which include PBS television programs, online services, and professional development opportunities.

PBS television programs

Reading Rockets produces award-winning television programs for national broadcast on PBS. These include A Tale of Two Schools, hosted by Morgan Freeman, and the multi-part Launching Young Readers series. Program titles and descriptions are available on the Our Shows on PBS page. The programs are also available for purchase on videotape or DVD from Reading Rockets' online store. Many of the programs can be viewed online for free from our web site through video streaming.

Online services

Reading Rockets develops and manages several web services. ReadingRockets.org is our comprehensive and daily updated web site that includes reading news headlines, research-based articles, tips for parents and educators, video interviews with top children's book authors, a monthly e-newsletter, national and local resources, an online store, and much more.

Reading Rockets also developed Colorín Colorado, a web service that provides information, activities, and advice for Spanish-speaking parents and educators of English language learners (ELLs). The bilingual web site is now funded by a grant from the American Federation of Teachers.

In addition, Reading Rockets has developed web sites for PBS.org. The Launching Young Readers site is a companion to our ongoing television series. The A Tale of Two Schools site accompanies our award-winning documentary.

Professional development opportunities

Reading Rockets produces teleconferences and free webcasts for teacher professional development. The teleconferences are available live via satellite and offer teachers an opportunity to hear from national experts. The webcasts are available online and can be accessed for free by educators at any time.

Help spread the word

Please let others know about Reading Rockets and help us spread the word about the importance of reading. The Link to Reading Rockets page explains what you can do. The Reading Rockets in Action page may inspire you with the innovative ways many different people and organizations are using our resources.

Reading Rockets also welcomes press inquiries. Press materials, including press releases and high-resolution images, are available in our Press Room.

Reprint Policy

Material from our website may not be sold or used commercially. Permission to publish materials must be granted by the copyright holder.

You are welcome to print copies for personal use, or a limited number for educational purposes, as long as credit is given to Reading Rockets and the author(s).

Because we get our articles from a variety of sources, please check the bottom of the article for special reprint permissions or restrictions from the publisher.

If you have questions, please contact us at readingrockets@weta.org.

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