TextProject aims to bring beginning and struggling readers to high levels of literacy through a variety of strategies and tools, particularly the texts used for reading instruction.

TextProject Topics

Reading TodayThe Common Core’s Staircase of Text Complexity: Getting the Size of the First Step Right

TextProject president and CEO Elfrieda (Freddy) Hiebert explains why the assertion in the Common Core State Standards that K–3 reading texts have been dumbed down along with those for higher grades is contradicted by reasearch, that too much text complexity in lower grades is an obstacle to beginning reading proficiency, and that there is no evidence that the recommended increase in complexity for third-grade texts will improve reading proficiency at higher grades. The article appears in the December 2011/January 2012 issue of IRA's Reading Today (digital magazine version available online to IRA members only) but is reprinted here from Reading Today with the permission of the International Reading Association.

TExT Products

TextProject creates reading programs based on our TExT model of text complexity.

Powered by TExT - Text Elements by Task Among the leading classroom reading programs based on TExT are QuickReads and ZipZoom.

SummerReads™SummerReads is TextProject's free summer reading program, based on the TExT model, that helps at-risk readers avoid the summer slump.

BeginningReads™For Fall 2011, TextProject launches our new BeginningReads program to support bringing children into reading by connecting their oral language knowledge with written words.

Talking Points for Kids is a prototype program that aims to increase meaningful discussion with students.

Teacher Support

TextProject helps teachers who want to improve their students' reading achievement.

E4: Exceptional Expressions for Everyday EventsReading activities promote fluency and vocabulary, including E4: Exceptional Expressions for Everyday Events (still free but newly revised, updated and polished) and QuickReads Word Pictures.

Professional development, including a series of upcoming webinars, provides teachers background on the elements of reading success.

Benchmark Texts: Stepping Up Complexity is a set of contemporary benchmark books that complements those already identified by Jeanne Chall and the CCSS.

Word lists, such as the popular WordZones™ for 5,586 Most Frequent Words, focus on the vocabulary needed for middle- and high-school success.

Research

TextProject's new Reading Research Report series documents innovations in reading education.

The latest report looks at the measurement of text complexity under the guidelines of the CCSS.

The TextProject Library contains a decade's worth of research articles, presentation slides and more from founder Elfrieda H. Hiebert and her colleagues.

Recent Frankly Freddy Posts

20 January 2012

Children’s literacy learning and screen time

3 August 2011

Is Reading in Kindergarten the Means for Ensuring College and Career Readiness?

7 June 2011

The 90-10 Rule of Vocabulary in Increasing Students’ Capacity for Complex Text

What's New

18 January 2012

Summer Reading

16 January 2012

Press

TextProject is in the news. This page summarizes writings and reviews of TextProject that appear in the media, as well as TextProject-produced materials appearing elsewhere.

9 December 2011

BeginningReads™ Logo
BeginningReads™

Update: Levels 5 & 6 Added TextProject's new BeginningReads program supports teachers, parents, and tutors in bringing children into reading. Before children learn about written language, they have developed a substantial oral language word bank. The goal of BeginningReads is to connect student’s oral language knowledge with written language. The first four levels (of 12 books each) are available now. We'll add more levels over the coming months.