Sold a Story

5,112

Millions of kids can't read well. Scientists have known for decades how children learn to read, but many schools don’t know about the research. They buy teacher training and books that are rooted in a disproven idea. In Sold a Story, Emily Hanford investigates four authors and a publishing company that have made millions selling this idea. The podcast has won some of the biggest awards in journalism. Twenty-five states (and counting) have changed their reading laws because of it. Now, Apple Podcasts has recognized Sold a Story as a Series Essential. To celebrate, we’re making it available without ads or other announcements for a limited time.

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Recent Reviews
  • MTherese
    PAY ATTENTION ‼️
    Children with special needs require decoding. It’s a must. Parents out there are entitled to special testing at public schools to detect special needs of students. The younger the better. Decoding and multi sensory teaching is necessary for these children to succeed
  • Breezecrazy晴
    Great show
    Thoughtful investigation and eye-opening findings. Really enjoy this. Thank you!
  • nottooclevr
    Fascinating and Upsetting
    As a former teacher, I will say that listening to this podcast was both informative and upsetting. In my teaching credential program, we were not taught to use phonics in reading instruction, even though that was how many of us learned to read as kids. Looking back, it seems that we teacher candidates really weren’t taught how to teach reading at all, but how to try to get kids to love books by making them fun and engaging, having a lot of books, and teaching cues as strategies. Reading was supposed to happen “naturally.” I’m really sorry for all the kids who were failed by this untested theory and struggled in school. I hope school districts and colleges of education learn from this.
  • greenisland
    Terrifying
    A must listen if you have kids in public school in California where my kids were subjected to the harmful curriculum mentioned here (by otherwise wonderful loving teachers who didn’t know any better). Kudos to the states who have outlawed this. Would love to see similar research re mathematics curricula…
  • Cackalacky21
    A must listen!
    If you’re an educator, parent, or anyone interested in children’s literacy, you need to listen! It was shocking and eye opening to hear how a publishing company has profited so much from teaching a debunked form of reading education in our schools. I hope that educators and parents everywhere can be encouraged that there is hope for our children to read and will push back against the corporate agenda that has hurt our children and our schools. I know it’s exactly what Marie Clay would want.
  • Ommax3
    Oh my word….an entire generation were harmed
    This podcast delves into how big money and pride have swayed an entire generation of educators to teach a system of reading that is flawed, lacks real research and has harmed children. As a teacher, I’m horrified that this wasn’t uncovered sooner. As a parent, I am sad that my own children could have been better readers had I known better.
  • podcastlover585037
    Every parent needs to listen to this!!!
    As a parent to a five year old who started kindergarten this year I am SO thankful I stubbled upon this podcast. It is so strange having basically no clue or information on how they are teaching my kid at school. My kid’s school became a dual language school this year so her class is 95% in Spanish. They told us not to teach her how to read at home just read to her each day and that all the students will be behind until third grade and then excel after that because of the dual language. Well, my mom who had a program helping ppl get their GED and has taught many people to read mentioned to me the Bob books she used. I saw them at the store and brought them home. It was so exciting to see my daughter sound out the words and read a book all on her own! I’ve felt guilty for teaching her bc the school explicitly told us not too. Thank you so much for this podcast! This was shocking and heart breaking and I will share it with every parent I know!
  • Gargie1234
    5/5! A must hear for all parents & educators!
    Wow. I’m so grateful for your extremely important reporting on teaching reading. What a gift you are to kids. Thank you!
  • AndieTonio
    Middle America Mom
    I cried when listening to this. A mom of 2 adult children and a High School senior. This podcast was is my story. My oldest I was told that I was not reading to him enough. Middle daughter I remember her making up stories to go with the pictures and trying teach her to sound out the words. (She still doesn’t read very well) listening to this I am still crying. I felt like a failure as a mom because my kids struggled learning to read. I myself love to read. I love a good book a good story. Thanks for giving me my mom card back. I will not fail my future grandchildren this I promise.
  • RescueMyChild.org
    Shocking
    Outstanding investigative journalism. Why am I still shocked when people ignore science and data in favor of their feelings? I find it especially egregious when educators hurt children by blindly clinging to fanciful notions of learning. We must return to logic and reason within our educational system.
  • E.Massoudi
    Amazing work
    This is an amazing podcast! After listening to this I’ve seen why my child is struggling to read and now I know I can help him.
  • BLew321
    Fascinating
    Really enjoying this. I’m a homeschool parent teaching my daughter how to read using phonics. It’s shocking to learn how kids are being taught reading at traditional schools. Thank you for bringing light to this subject!
  • Blondie5789
    Crucial Listening for Parents
    If you have kids, teach kids, love kids or even just like them a little....PLEASE listen!!
  • Be_laDonna
    Can’t stop listening
    I look forward to getting in my car to put on this podcast. Great reporting and very insightful. Thank you for the hard work you put into this show.
  • KESpag
    Sold a Story
    Very interesting podcast. I’ve listened to all the episodes. I’m a grandparent looking to help avoid the reading pitfalls with my grandchildren. Do you have materials you can suggest to support phonics? All I’m getting is what’s wrong and what doesn’t work.
  • M.Ski
    This describes my experience!!!
    ❓What about university & teachers colleges? How is it possible that university professors and schools of education have never looked at the science of any of this or educated new teachers in proper, science base methods of teaching reading and writing? Growing up in the 70s with open concept, self-directed education complete with SRA kits — we never really learned anything, especially did not learn any love for reading or writing! Then I became a teacher graduating in the late 80s, and taught through the 1990s during whole language and outcome based education. Here’s the thing that I wish the journalist would address next…. THE MASSIVE IMPACT & INFLUENCE OF MANDATORY TEACHERS’ UNIONS WHO ARE TOTALLY POLITICALLY CONNECTED & USE TEACHERS TO CANVAS NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THEIR AGENDA & CANDIDATES.
  • FrugalDad72
    Eye opening
    This is one of the most shocking true stories about educational malpractice. It is the same story I was sold as a young grad student in the nineties and new middle school teacher soon after. If you have the time and interest, please listen — especially if you have (or plan to have) children that you want to be proficient readers.
  • SeventhGenTex
    Fascinating
    I am a secondary history teacher and I have never taught elementary reading, but know that the F and P method is everywhere. I have so many students at the secondary level that cannot read well and cannot comprehend the secondary curriculum. I wonder if this type of instruction in the elementary years is the part of the problem?
  • ST in Belmar
    Priceless!
    Thank you to Emily Hanford and her team for this transformational podcast!
  • Ajazeslj
    This!
    I am in my 27th year of teaching and this was sooo eye opening to me. Thank you so much. I am thankful that when I know better, I do better. I just wish the leaders in our school districts would do the same.
  • Big City Teachey
    Sold a story
    My thoughts on this podcast. I was a reading teacher. I taught in a very large school with over a million students. Yes, we used Lucy Calkins. To me, the downfall of reading came with schools dropping the Spelling book. Yes, it was costly to buy new books. However, it was taught to the entire group, rather than having different spelling lists for each individual student’s needs. There was a pattern to the week, with Monday introducing the word family, and Friday being a writing exercise. To complicate manners, reading was taught in small groups. As many as six groups a week, based on the level they were at in Lucy Calkins. Plans for six reading groups, individualuzed spelling lists, and center activities for students, not being taught at the moment, took hours. Add to that, the individual testing, and you have little time to address the class as a group. Thanks for listening ! Best luck with your podcast!
  • dparisman
    not perfect or complete, but timely and needed
    This podcast series is brilliant at sharing the problem so many of us voiced when we were forced to implement the system and not question it's validity. Fortunately, I worked in a school that allowed us to take what worked and dismiss what did not, but I can validate every issue. Emily illuminates is legitimate and was a concern for most of the teachers who were implementing the system. What I think is missing is that the program does amazing revolutionary job at teaching literacy in a way that did not exist before and there's no credit given for the transformational practices of balanced literacy. There are many. And I would also love some exploration of why the complaints of the teachers were not heard. But that said, the series was cathartic, accurate, and the blessing for those who questions so many the things we were told to do.
  • tiernankill
    So frustrating
    I’m am listening to this podcast as the parent of a “stealth” dyslexic son who cannot encode or decode words and can read because he has sight memorized every word he knows. We pulled him from our neighborhood public school after over a year of them ignoring the problem and got him evaluated and paid for help. Listening to the description of how this curriculum is teaching kids to “read” is like teaching every child as if they are dyslexic? No learning to encode and decode- only informed guessing based on context. Bizarre.
  • smcruikshank
    YES AND AMEN
    Such a powerful and entertaining journey through some important aspects of education. My jaw hit the floor a few times realizing the atrocities that have been allowed to happen.
  • Lisa&Dutch
    Finally! I have answers!
    I taught fifth graders 2010-2022. In those years we did readers workshop. Somewhere in that time we adopted Units of Study. I struggled teaching this curriculum and felt frustrated because my students didn’t make progress. When I would bring up my concerns with administrators, I was told all the other teachers love the program and their students were excelling. What did I do? I turned to Heinemann Publishing to buy more resources to help me help my students, but it didn’t help. I retired before I wanted because I felt ineffective. Thank you for validating my concerns. Wishing I could have helped my students better, though.
  • KBlake88
    ELL Perspective?
    As a former high school teacher, I found this podcast to be absolutely fascinating and binged it while on vacation. The one thing I thought was missing and would love to hear about in future episodes is how the science of reading intersects with teaching English Language Learners. What have been the challenges there? As typically underserved, underrepresented populations, these kids don’t often have lobbyists or wealthy parents pushing money and other resources on their behalf. How about students with special needs. It’s my understanding that interventions that benefit these populations most often benefit the larger classroom population. I really want to hear from reading specialists and reading teachers who work with these groups of students in future episodes. Thank you for the reporting!
  • Akshadowbird
    For all parents and teachers!
    This is a great podcast that anyone who works with or is raising children should listen to! We should all be aware of the history of teaching reading and what it has has been doing to our children.
  • Sixpackofbuds
    Inspiring & Needed in Modern Education
    I was brought to this podcast through a school assignment, and have listened to all the episodes! It truly is eye-opening for how we teach our kiddos how to read!!
  • YKistner
    Enlightening!
    This was an incredibly enlightening and informative podcast! It is such a shame that despite the science, the real experiences, the educators who questioned, the parents who struggled to understand, and mostly the kids who suffered and believed that they were flawed and incapable of reading - the system continued to support a curriculum over so many years. This explains so much! And now this information is out in the open. So grateful for the excellent reporting!
  • Km011389
    Great reporting
    This podcast changed the way I teach students to read. This resource has been invaluable. #fduedtech
  • Clrkelley
    Listen and Share!
    This should be required listening for everyone in education - thank you for putting words and research to the concerns I have always had but could fully explain.
  • Amyhud1
    Revelation
    As a teacher, I’m embarrassed to say that I had no idea. I’m sadden to know that I’ve been teaching reading wrong & have hurt kids in the process. I’d love to know what curriculum the districts ARE using now using the Science of Reading…. Please help
  • WestmontGuy
    Here to applaud end of ep.6
    I’ll own to crying happy tears hearing the featured kids reading the credits. Honestly & actually deciphering & reading those names. What an inspired moment of sheer joy. Bravo and thanks.
  • KNicchi
    A necessary listen!
    Sold a Story is a well-reported, fascinating listen on how we teach reading in the US. As a teacher who has taught 1st and 2nd graders for the past decade, I highly recommend all educators, parents, and interested folks check it out!
  • Amy the Coug
    Thank you!
    I listened to your podcast recently. Our district has been teaching elementary teachers and any other interested people about the science of reading. I was part of a 2 year adoption process for a new reading and writing curriculum. We used the tenets of the science of reading to evaluate various programs and we are so excited to launch it this fall. I’m going to recommend people listen to this before the trainings as most teachers have been using the cuing method and we know there will be some resistance. This may help more teachers get on board. Thank you! My hope as an SLP is to use the science of reading strategies in my therapy room. If you have any reading suggestions for that, please share. Thanks!
  • Al6379431789
    Shocking and eye opening
    This podcasts explains how some of our main national literacy programs are FAILING our children. Literacy is a basic skill (and should be a right) that is essential for success. It truly makes me sad to think about the high school students who can’t read - why are we surprised when they struggle? We need to spread the word and do something!
  • Millers1970
    Required listening for all!
    Every parent, teacher, school adm, school board member needs to listen. College faculty…LISTEN! Forget about your political ideology and ideas you are wedded to. Emily Hanford has shown how real investigative journalism is done. She follows the truth…the facts and there is no agenda. She revisits her reporting, listens to feedback and adds to her reporting…clarifying, correcting and sometimes doubling down. If you really care about all children and their ability to read…if you care about our national trajectory and national security…you will listen with an open mind.
  • Kathyisgreatsoshutup
    Answered a pivotal question in my own life
    This is exactly why I had to repeat 1st grade. I didn’t know how to read. I had no idea why they were teaching me the way they were, but my parents knew something was wrong when I was spelling cat like kat and the teachers were okay with it. I repeated 1st grade at a catholic school and starting reading within a few weeks. This podcast explained so much, I thought I was the only one. But now I have two bachelor degrees, I love reading, but hate writing 😄 I still have issues with pronouncing words, recalling words and spelling.
  • Mae Rand
    Moving, Informative, and Inspiring
    This is a MUST LISTEN for every parent, educator, voter, student, and legislator. This is foundational investigative reporting that is equal parts exposé, informational, and a roadmap for where to go in the future.
  • Nicknicknick1230
    Amazing!!!
    Thank you Emily and all those who put this together. I just stumbled upon the added episodes & of course finished them same day. When this came out, I am not sure how I found it, but it was our story. Just like the kids she introduced, Covid really helped us see the deficit in our 1st grade daughter. I did not want to send her back to school, so she was homeschooled. I figured that I had taught her brother to read by age 3, so additional one on one time phonics would work. Boy was I wrong. Long story short, our dyslexic kiddo need to get down the auditory pathways first and then she began to do better with explicit instruction from an amazing private school. Listening to this podcast, like the Indiana senator, I vacillated between sad and angry. But at the end of the day, there are glimmers of hope and that is enough! Our school district has a wonderful woman that has been leading the change in reading instruction. We are still in private school, but this is so near and dear to me, as I was a struggling reader and do not want any kid to be without the ability to read and read well. Thank you again Emily and all those who put this together!
  • Top6cat
    Awesome reporting
    Really interesting listen. Loved hearing all the research. Amazing to hear how so many literally ignore- especially coming from so called experts. Really sad (I did cry a little) to hear how so much of what we are taught comes from money. Makes it super difficult to know what’s true! Hoping you’ve got a new series coming!
  • KiFam4
    BEST PODCAST I’VE EVER FOUND ON READING
    My son is up 3 grade levels in 1 year due to your podcast!!!!!
  • Hbla12345
    Fantastic - should be required for educators and parents everywhere
    Absolutely amazing - thank you for illuminating the truth in reading education.
  • lonestarslp
    Old News
    The way to teach reading by using phonics is old news. My kids went to elementary school in Texas over 20 years ago, and they were taught phonics. I was instructed on phonemic awareness as part of my degree on communication disorders which I earned about twenty years ago. Any school not using phonics as an important part of their curriculum now is not following the recommendations of most educators. This podcast seems to think they found out something new.
  • TLPOLIEY
    This Pulled Me In Quickly!
    A colleague mentioned it, I added it to my playlist, and when it started after my other daily routine podcasts, I was absolutely enthralled! After finishing my 18th year ONLY in 3rd grade, this spoke to me. It makes me want to be a better advocate - a better teacher - for my students!
  • ⓛⓞⓞⓟⓦⓡⓘⓣⓔⓡ
    Excellent from beginning to end!
    Keep on fighting until everyone can read! Excellent!
  • Pllants
    Interesting
    Very interesting and informative. I wonder how the teachers that taught it could not see the error. To me it sounded like they were teaching them to guess. What happens when the pictures disappear. Surely the teachers learned to sound out words.
  • AnnaSews
    Great podcast; everyone must listen
    Incredible reporting on such an important topic. I couldn’t stop listening!
  • Jlpcanton
    Ironic
    I was listening to this podcast as I was driving through a small town. This town had pictures of all the senior athletes hanging on the flagpoles. As I sat at a red light I saw the girl in the photo next to me had a long Greek name. As I sat there and sounded out the name (several attempts needed) I thought to myself how impossible it would be if I was not taught how to sound out words as a youth.
  • Constant Learning
    Irony
    Very interesting. My one issue with this podcast is that they spend an inordinate amount of time discussing how these women made money off their reading/writing programs. The insulation here is that the fact they made money was somehow wrong or perhaps their motives disingenuous. The ironic part is that EVERY SINGLE EPISODE this podcast asks for money from its listeners. They say that their authentic journalism is expensive etc. I believe this is true but it’s funny to me that they harangue the women who made money of their teaching methods yet ask for money themselves for how they choose to spread information.
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