Dr. Elfrieda H. (Freddy) Hiebert

When Aspirational Benchmarks Become Public Verdicts: Revisiting NAEP Proficiency What does NAEP Proficiency actually represent? Is it intended to describe what is developmentally appropriate for most eighth graders, or does it represent a more ambitious target? Ambitious goals are...

What does NAEP Proficiency actually represent? When aspirational benchmarks are misread as diagnostic norms, high expectations become public condemnation. textproject.org/frankly-fred...

Flattening the Developmental Staircase: Lexical Complexity in Elementary Reading Texts Across Six Decades This study examined how the lexical complexity of elementary reading textbooks has changed over six decades, finding that the issue is not declining rigor, but rather compressed progression.

The issue is not declining rigor in the complexity of school texts. The issue is compressed progression. Contemporary texts often begin at elevated levels and provide less systematic lexical expectations across grades. textproject.org/research/rea...

Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary: Reviving Freddy's Favorites At TextProject, we believe that literacy is the gateway to agency. But beyond the mechanics of reading lies the why: the stories that stay with us, the books that make us look at a common bird or a qu...

Freddy's Favorites is back! To celebrate the return of our curated selection of read-aloud recommendations, head over to our latest post "Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary" and subscribe to the TextProject monthly newsletter: textproject.org/giveaway

Why Knowledge Matters from Day One TextProject resources, including those for beginning reader help students master decoding through meaningful content.

Even at the earliest stages, TextProject texts support knowledge acquisition as well as word recognition.
Our resources, including those for beginning readers—BeginningReads and TopicReads-Primary— ensure students master decoding through meaningful content.
textproject.org/frankly-fred...

Cover photo of article in Literacy Today magazine showing a woman with wavy red hair sitting in a library with an open laptop in front of her, writing in a notebook. Title "Flipping the Script: Using AI to rethin vocabulary instruction" is superimposed on photo.

For the latest issue of Literacy Today, I sat down with Lara Deloza to discuss how educators can move beyond "cherry-picked" word lists to focus on high-frequency, high-impact vocabulary—backed by decades of research and now enhanced by AI. #Edusky #EdTech #Literacy
publuu.com/flip-book/24...

The Power of Text Sets: Freddy Talks with the Melissa & Lori Love Literacy Podcast TextProject founder and CEO Dr Elfrieda (Freddy) Hieberts joins Melissa and Lori of the Melissa and Lori Love Literacy podcast to talk about her life's work: the importance of texts in reading instruc...

What a delight to talk about my life's work with the Melissa and Lori Love Literacy Podcast! We discuss the power of text sets, strategies for vocabulayr instruction, and more. #Edusky #literacy textproject.org/power-of-tex...

Enjoyed talking with Jake Downs, host of the Talking Literacy podcast, about automaticity, the core vocabulary, reading volume, and shifts in understanding of text complexity over the decades. textproject.org/automaticity...

English’s richness comes from three distinct linguistic sources: Anglo-Saxon Foundations, French/Latin Influences, and Greek Contributions. Through WordRoots, students discover the fascinating story behind English words, developing not just vocabulary but curiosity about language itself.

Introducing WordRoots, targeted texts centering on root words to enhance students’ understanding of English word construction. WordRoots develops recognition of morphemes—meaningful word units often neglected in literacy instruction. textproject.org/teachers/voc...
#EduSky #teachingreading

TextProject photo of a woman in a light blue shirt in front of a class of future teachers. In the foreground text on a blue background: Resources for Teacher Educators: In addition to our free, research-based texts for K-12 students, TextProject.org offers a wealth of professional development resources and insights from the latest literacy research. textproject.org/teacher-educators

In addition to our free, research-based texts for K-12 students, TextProject.org offers a wealth of professional development resources and insights from the latest literacy research. All available for free download at textproject.org/teacher-educ...
#eduSky #teachereducators #professionaldevelopment

“Making sure the books check every box”: Preservice teachers learning to select texts for reading instruction How do preservice teachers learn what makes a text complex? This study evaluates how one can teacher educator program approaches classroom text selection.

How can teacher education programs best prepare teacher candidates for the crucial task of choosing appropriate classroom texts for reading instruction? TextProject.org's latest Reading Research Snapshot provides some important insights. #EduSky

textproject.org/text-selecti...

Example of one of TextProject's DecodableReads: Photo of a small orange kitten in a big straw hat illustrates a decodable story text "Cat's Big Hat": Cat has a big hat. Cat loves its big hat. Cat runs after Rat. Rat jumps into a box. Cat jumps in the box, too. But Cat's big hat does not filt. It falls off Cat. Rat jumps out of the box. She puts on the big hat. Then, she runs away. Now Rat has a very big hat. And Cat has none! Sometimes a big hat can get in the way.

DecodableReads™ are short, engaging stories that reinforce consistent, common vowel patterns and high-frequency words. Available for free as online flipbooks or downloadable story bundles on our website at textproject.org/decodablereads
#EduSky #scienceofreading

Texts for High School Readers TeenReads Magazine-format texts that make reading engaging and accessible for reluctant or struggling readers. Heroes! Inspirational stories for high school students featuring amazing real-life heroes...

“Developmentally appropriate” means texts that are interesting and engaging to the target age group. Check out TextProject’s TopicReads for Middle School, and the TeenReads and Heroes series for high schoolers. (2/2)
textproject.org/teachers/fre...

Audio books are indeed a great way for students to access complex texts, but independent reading practice is vital if we want to close the achievement gap. Scaffolded texts for older students need not be boring baby texts. (1/2)

How Misunderstandings of Text Complexity May Have Widened the Achievement Gap Misconceptions about the complexity of classroom texts for beginning readers led teachers to de-emphasize independent reading practice.

The Common Core standards dramatically increased text complexity based on an incorrect assumption that texts had been getting easier. Read my case for aligning text complexity with research-based developmental progressions: #Edusky
textproject.org/misunderstan...

Slides from Freddy's recent webinar presentation to the Illinois Reading Council are now available on the TextProject website. Thanks to everyone who attended. America’s teachers are amazing!
textproject.org/library-page...

Meet the Speakers for Plain Talk 2025 - Photo of Elfrieda "Freddy" Hiebert - a white woman with short brown hair wearing a bright blue top. Description of sessions she is presenting are at the link above

I'll be at The Center for Literacy & Learning's #PlainTalkNOLA 2025 this coming Thursday Feb. 13, presenting two sessions on "Decoding English: How Spelling and Meaning Shape Reading Success" and "The New Science of Vocabulary: AI Enhanced Approaches to Word Selection." See you there!
www.mycll.org

The AI Story Problem: Why Stories for Children and Adolescents Still Need Human Writers - TextProject While AI excels at organizing and presenting factual information, the art of crafting stories that resonate with young readers still requires human creativity, emotional intelligence, and lived experi...

While AI excels at organizing and presenting factual information, the art of crafting stories that resonate with young readers still requires human creativity, emotional intelligence, and lived experience.
textproject.org/ai-story-pro...

If you’re impacted by the wildfires in Southern California, apply for the CTA Disaster Relief Fund. Or if you’re able to, consider donating to help. Click here: ctamemberbenefits.org/disaster

The word "vocabulary" is spelled out in colorful cout out letters on top of a blue background. White text on a green background reads: The New Science of Vocabulary: AI-Enhanced Approaches to Word Selection Tuesday, January 14, 2025 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST, with Dr. Elfrieda "Freddy Hiebert, President and CEO of Text Project

Vocabulary is not about memorizing lists, it's about learning connections between words. Learn how teachers can leverage AI-generated insights to enhance vocabulary acquisition in this free webinar with Dr. Elfrieda “Freddy” Hiebert, January 14, 2025 @ 3:30 pm EST. Info: textproject.org/register

Has the "Science of Reading" Gone Overboard on Phonics? Some educators are spending too much time on phonics instruction in the early grades, experts warn.

Thought-provoking article from Natalie Wexler: Has the "Science of Reading" gone overboard on phonics? #EduSky nataliewexler.substack.com/p/has-the-sc...

Terminology, Texts and Teachers in an AI World YouTube video by TextProject

Video is now available from my keynote for the Literacy Research Association Reading Hall of Fame Mentoring session on December 5! #EduSky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Pj...

Flyer for a webinar: "Vocabulary, an Unsung Hero of Reading Comprehension" December 9, 2024 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. Features photos of the 4 presenters - Sonia Cabell, Assoc. Professor of Reading Instruction, Florida Center for Reading Research, FSU; Elfrieda "Freddy" Hiebert of TextProject, Sean Morrisey, 5th grade teach at Pinehurst Elementary School, hosted by Kristen McQuillan of StandardsWork, Inc. The webinar sponsor, KnowledgeMattersCampaign.org is highlighted at the bottom of the flyer.

There's still time to sign up for this webinar! TextProject's own Dr. Elfrieda H. (Freddy) Hiebert joins Sonia Cabell and Sean Morissey to spotlight vocabulary as the unsung hero in reading success. #EduSky #knowledgematterscampaign

us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Thanks for including TextProject!

The Science of Word Zones: How Big Data is Building Better Readers - TextProject In my recent article “Unpacking automaticity: Scaffolded texts and comprehension,” I introduced Critical Word Zones as the foundation for scaffolded texts. When discussing this approach, educators oft...

How are scaffolded texts different from the old Dick & Jane controlled vocabulary readers? Read how advances in language research and data analysis can be used to create texts that support automaticity while maintaining natural, engaging language. textproject.org/word-zones-s...
#Edusky