What is FreeReading?

FreeReading is an open source Website where teachers can access a free, sequential, research-based reading intervention program for grades K-3, and contribute their own lessons and insights into what works best in the classroom.

Why FreeReading?

In providing teachers with such a resource, Wireless Generation aims to help school systems deliver high quality instruction with a rigorous, free program that reflects the latest research on effective early literacy practices, and is constantly enhanced and extended by fellow educators.

How does FreeReading actually help schools and educators?

Save and reapply school funds (it’s that simple)
FreeReading is significantly less expensive to produce and distribute, enabling widespread access to a high-quality instructional program at no charge

Seven to eight billion is spent nationally on text books and instructional materials, FreeReading aims to free up those funds so they can be used to purchase formative assessment, professional development and other initiatives that directly help teachers in the classroom. FreeReading is a step toward changing the current economic landscape in education and freeing up funding for things that improve teaching and learning.

Reliable instructional materials
FreeReading provides high quality, rigorous, instructional materials for free. It offers a complete intervention program in phonics and phonological awareness for grades K-3, and will soon expand to include vocabulary and comprehension. Teachers can follow the full 40-week scope and sequence of lessons, or tailor materials to individual students’ learning needs or class curriculum needs.

Provides content by educators, for educators. Teachers and their ability to understand and address students’ individual needs have the greatest positive effects on student learning, FreeReading aims to help school systems deliver high quality instruction with a rigorous, free program that reflects the latest research on effective early literacy practices, and is constantly enhanced and extended by fellow educators.

Research- based
Developed by a team of instructional designers and teachers across the country, FreeReading's initial content, including Intervention A, was reviewed by an advisory board including some of the country’s leading reading researchers.  Two members of that original Board, Michael Kamil and Catherine Snow, currently serve as Advisors who steward the ongoing research and development agenda of FreeReading.

How does FreeReading work?

Open-source and Web 2.0 technology
Open-source and Web 2.0 technology makes it possible for teachers to easily give feedback, contribute additional lessons and activities in real-time, and join discussions on early literacy

Creates a community of educators
FreeReading users can easily adapt the content to their needs, contribute and share their own materials as supplemental lessons within the scope and sequence. As a result, FreeReading always reflects the collective wisdom of a worldwide community of educators who understand how children best learn to read.

Who uses FreeReading?

You can, right now!
Since its introduction in November, the FreeReading community has grown rapidly to include educators in all 50 states and 165 countries.

States are adopting FreeReading
FreeReading is the first open-source instructional program to be approved through an official state adoption. The state of Florida recently approved FreeReading as a supplemental reading program that state schools may use during the 2008-2009 school year. Read the press release for more information on this state-wide adoption.