Kimberly Stockton 
Table of Contents
Teachers are the single most influential factor in student success, far outweighing the impact of any education program. Their expertise shapes foundational reading skills and can determine a student’s long-term academic trajectory. Research from the National Reading Panel (NRP) confirms that explicit training, for both new and experienced educators, significantly improves student outcomes.
Yet, despite this evidence, many teacher preparation programs fail to require comprehensive coursework in all five essential components of reading instruction as outlined by the NRP. This gap in teacher training is reflected in the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading Report Card which reveals that only 31% of fourth grade students are performing at or above proficient reading levels. Clearly, teachers need access to deeper knowledge, skills, and evidence-based instructional strategies.
High-quality professional learning for teachers is critical to reversing literacy gaps and ensuring that all students become proficient readers. When educators possess deep and nuanced knowledge of language and literacy, they are better equipped to guide students on their reading journeys. Investing in teacher expertise not only transforms individual student outcomes but also strengthens communities and contributes to a more literate, informed society.
Wanted: Deep Teacher Knowledge of Language
Most teachers do not receive adequate training in the science of reading during their pre-service education, making ongoing, in-service professional development essential. To be effective, teachers must master key literacy concepts, including:
• Phonological Awareness and Phonics. Strong reading instruction begins with an understanding of how sounds and letters form words. Teachers need targeted expertise to deliver direct instruction in phonological awareness and phonics, ensuring students develop fluent word recognition. Additionally, a deep understanding of pronunciation, spelling, and etymology allows educators to diagnose where a student’s decoding might be breaking down and provide targeted support.
• Morphological awareness, the ability to recognize and understand prefixes, suffixes, roots, and inflections, is a powerful tool for vocabulary expansion and reading comprehension. Since the same root morphemes are found in multiple words, learning a morpheme in one word can open the meaning to many new words that contain that morpheme. Research shows that explicit instruction in morphology helps students decode unfamiliar words, significantly improving both vocabulary acquisition and comprehension skills.
• Vocabulary Development. Studies confirm that a robust vocabulary is essential for strong reading comprehension. Effective teachers employ both direct and indirect instructional approaches: direct instruction pre-teaches key terms, while indirect instruction helps students infer meanings through context. This dual approach enhances reading fluency and deepens comprehension.
• The NRP sees exposure to a variety of comprehension strategies as being key to effective reading instruction. Effective reading instruction includes explicit teaching of comprehension strategies. Educators must help students understand how syntax and meaning interact, recognize text structures, and use context clues to derive meaning. Mastering these skills ensures students can engage with complex texts and read to learn across subject areas.
Effective Teachers = Successful Students
Despite the critical importance of literacy instruction, most new teachers enter the classroom without sufficient preparation in evidence-based reading strategies. Pre-service teacher preparation programs often lack comprehensive coursework in the science of reading, and in-service professional learning opportunities are often inconsistent and insufficient.
Lexia LETRS bridges this gap by providing educators with the deep knowledge of language and literacy development they need for classroom success. Grounded in more than 30 years of research, the professional learning program equips teachers with practical strategies that align with the five essential components of reading instruction—phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading fluency, and comprehension—along with oral language, spelling, and writing.
Ultimately, the success of our education system hinges on the effectiveness of our teachers. By prioritizing high-quality professional learning that emphasizes the science of reading, we can empower educators with the tools and expertise they need to ensure all students develop strong literacy skills. Investing in teacher knowledge today means building a stronger, more literate future for generations to come.
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