girl looks up with finger on temple, deep in thought
We are thinkers!
two kids lay on floor looking at an open picture book
We are growing readers!
Young boy looking up at butterflies
We are explorers!
Multicultural group of smiling elementary students
We are community!
girl looks up from her writing notebook while leaning against tree outdoors
We are writers!
closeup of young boy holding a book
We are book lovers!
elementary teachers talking with two students at their desks
We are learners!
Two young girls looking at picture books at the library
We are book lovers!

Reading Rockets offers a rich library of evidence-based classroom strategies to help young children become skilled readers.

Looking at Writing

In the Classroom

Looking at Writing

Explore annotated writing samples from kids in pre-K through grade 3, and see next-step suggestions for instruction. You’ll also learn about writing milestones and different purposes of writing — along with ideas for how to make room for writing during the day.

colorful map of path from beginning to end

Classroom Strategy

Story Sequence

The ability to recall and retell the sequence of events in a text helps students identify main narrative components, understand text structure, and summarize — all key components of comprehension. 

Additional Comprehension Strategies

Put Research into Action

From the building blocks of reading to classroom strategies to creating inclusive classrooms — we’re here to help you understand everything you need to know to help young children grow as readers and writers.

Illustration of two fish looking at an open book
Young Black teacher looking at laptop at home

Resources

Reading Research Library

Dive Deep into Literacy with Our Learning Library

Our rich library of classroom strategies, articles, parent tip sheets, FAQs, videos, research briefs and more provides you with research-based and best-practice information.

Explore all 26 Topics

Learn from Our Experts

We’re writing about best practices in reading instruction, building background knowledge, and choosing and using children’s books in the classroom and at home.

From Our Blogs

Rachael Walker
Book Life
Rachael Walker

Learning During School Breaks

Visit your local library to take advantage of all the fantastic activities and resources it has to offer — including reading challenges, writing co

Timothy Shanahan
Shanahan on Literacy
Timothy Shanahan

Is Comprehension Better with Digital Text? An Updated Post with New Research

New research indicates that the processing of texts on screens is faster and shallower than on paper.

Margaret Goldberg
Right to Read
Margaret Goldberg

Getting Reading Right Is Messy: No One Has It All Figured Out

Improving literacy rates on a large scale will require solving the problems that make working in schools like mine so challenging.

Find Insights on All Our Blogs
Q and A letters in speech bubbles

Expert Q&A

Get answers from nationally-known literacy and education experts to frequently asked questions about reading and writing. 

birds-eye view illustration of woman working on her laptop

Video Interviews with Literacy Experts

Learn from researchers and experts in literacy and early education. Topics include vocabulary, comprehension, writing, autism, social-emotional learning, children’s books, summer learning, and more.

Support Literacy at Home

One of the most important gifts we can give children is to help them learn to read and write so that they can succeed in school and beyond. Get a better understanding of what it takes to help the children in your life grow as readers, writers, and learners!

Illustration of a daisy growing out of a book
mother reading book about polar bears to her two young children in bed

Literacy at Home

Growing Readers: Bilingual Tip Sheets

Young boy holding turtle in nature center

Literacy at Home

Literacy in the Sciences

Help Children Discover Their Love of Books

Sometimes it just takes one wonderful book to turn a kid into a reader. Tap into what interests your child. 

Illustration of three birds flying and carrying books with their feet
Diverse group of elementary kids holding picture books

Books & Authors

Our Book Finder

Use Book Finder to create your own customized list of fiction and nonfiction books.
 Search through more than 5,000 books on Reading Rockets — by author or illustrator, age, genre, format, theme, and diversity topics.

Featured Booklists

Browse these booklists created by Maria Salvadore, our children's 
literature expert.

Elementary school boy choosing graphic novel from library shelf

Children’s Books & Authors

Choosing and Using
 Kids Books

Dav Pilkey drawing Dog Man on flip chart

Children’s Books & Authors

Interviews with Top Children’s Authors and Illustrators

Collage of diverse and multicultural children's books

Children’s Books & Authors

The Diverse Bookshelf

Three young kids standing in front of a fort made of sticks

Background Knowledge

Start with a Book: Read, Explore, Learn!

bird's eye view of young girl reading

Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift.

Kate DiCamillo

Stay Up to Date on Literacy Education’s Latest

Today’s Literacy Headlines

We’ve gathered fresh reading news from trusted sources so you don’t have to!

Read Our Headlines

Join the Conversation

Stay connected with us on social media to always get the latest from Reading Rockets and be sure to share our free resources!

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

Our newsletters offer news and information about reading, writing, learning disabilities, children's books and authors, and national education issues.

Read our latest issue: Vocabulary, dyslexia and DLD, civics, diverse books and more

Sign Up Today
Top

Visit our sister websites:

Start with a Book Read. Explore. Learn!

Colorín Colorado Helping ELLs Succeed

AdLitAll About Adolescent Literacy

LD OnLine All About Learning Disabilities and ADHD

Reading Universe All About Teaching Reading and Writing