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One in three Minnesota fourth graders cannot read at a “basic” level for their grade, according to 2022 reading test results from the 

National Assessment of Educational Progress

The question is, why do so many children struggle?

American Public Media senior producer Emily Hanford found answers in her podcast, “

Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong

.”  The podcast was released last fall and quickly became a must-listen for people involved in the national movement to reform reading instruction. 

The podcast digs into a key belief about how children learn to read that has held sway in schools for more than a generation, even though it was proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago. And, it shows how common teaching methods used by schools across the country can actually make it harder for children to learn how to read.  

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Emily Hanford about the reaction to her exposé and new bonus episodes. 

Can Minnesota schools do better at teaching kids to read? 

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: 

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Host

Author

The APM podcast “Sold a Story” exposed what went wrong with teaching kids to read. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with APM senior producer Emily Hanford about the attention her work is getting from high places. 

MPR News with Angela Davis - The APM podcast “Sold a Story” exposed what went wrong with teaching kids to read. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with APM senior producer Emily Hanford about the attention her work is getting from high places. 

MPR News with Angela Davis - How an APM podcast became part of a national movement to reform reading instruction

A photo of an author and the podcast for "Sold a Story"

How an APM podcast became part of a national movement to reform reading instruction

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