Tennessee Reading Research Center

09/17/2026

TRRC Director Dr. Deborah K. Reed will be presenting at the Memphis Literacy Conference this weekend (September 18–19)!

In her session for secondary educators, “Background Knowledge + Inferencing Ability = Brains More Accurate than AI,” Dr. Reed will talk about the differences between AI- and human-generated inferences, as well as how to support students in using their background knowledge to make text-based inferences and foster deeper comprehension.

Learn more about the conference host, the Memphis Literacy Institute: www.memphisliteracy.org

09/16/2026

Proficient handwriting is important for adolescents, especially considering the impact that penmanship has on students' literacy abilities.

The TRRC’s Handwriting Analysis Guide is a free resource that middle and high school teachers can use to collect and score writing samples. Although the guide alone cannot independently determine whether a student needs additional intervention or instruction, it provides a useful supplemental tool for gathering information about a student’s handwriting skills.

Download the Handwriting Analysis Guide: https://trrc.utk.edu/resources/handwriting-analysis-guide/

09/15/2026

“It’s hard to enjoy school if you’re struggling and all of your classes have some sort of burden of reading involved.” – Dr. Deborah Reed

In a recent article by Philip Dison for ABC 33/40, TRRC Director Dr. Deborah Reed speaks on the importance of providing support to middle- and high-school students who are struggling to read. Some middle- and high-school students who have reading difficulties can be overlooked because educators assume they have mastered key skills for reading content-area texts.

Learn more in the article below.

Alabama literacy leaders are pressing for sustained help for middle and high school students who still struggle to read after third grade.

09/14/2026

About 28% of U.S.-born adults have severely limited literacy skills.

Limited literacy can make daily tasks—such as reading a newspaper, applying for jobs, or understanding medication labels—more difficult. Adult education programs can help strengthen reading and writing skills and support pathways to further education and employment opportunities.

To learn more about programs in your area, visit the National Literacy Directory: nld.org/learners

09/11/2026

09/10/2026

Leon may be in over his head when he begins his crime-fighting “vigil-antics” at his school.

𝘓𝘦𝘰𝘯: 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 by Jamar Nicholas is an adventurous graphic novel about a “superhero” who may be causing more harm than good. Pair the book with this video to teach students in Grades 3–7 how pairing the illustrations and panel layouts with the words in graphic novels convey the meaning, tone, and mood of the story.

09/09/2026

What can four years of implementing Early Reading Training (ERT) in Tennessee tell us about student literacy outcomes?

The TRRC has conducted a series of evaluations on the impact of teachers’ participation in the Tennessee Department of Education’s ERT courses. The newest report presents findings from examining third graders’ Spring 2025 TCAP English Language Arts performance and highlights the significant benefits students have experienced across 2021–2025.

Explore the report, executive summary, and infographic: https://trrc.utk.edu/resources/impact-of-tdoe-ert-year-4

09/01/2026

It’s National Literacy Month!

The TRRC recognizes the importance of literacy throughout the year, not just during National Literacy Month. As a leader in literacy and reading research, we continually work to reaffirm our commitment to making our resources accessible to all.

Explore our free literacy resources: https://trrc.utk.edu/resource-library

08/25/2026

We mourn the loss of Dolly Parton, whose impact on our state extends far beyond her music. Through her unwavering commitment to literacy through the Imagination Library, she has gifted more than 332 million books to children, including almost 3.2 million books each month across 5 countries. Dolly inspired generations of Tennessee children to discover the joy and power of reading, putting millions of books into the hands of young readers. Her belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn and dream will continue to shape lives for generations to come. The Tennessee Department of Education "will always love you!" 📚🩷🦋💜

08/25/2026

Preschool teachers play a vital role in building the early literacy foundations that support later reading success in elementary school.

The Institute of Education Sciences’ 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺: 𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 offers four modules focused on key areas of early literacy development: print knowledge, phonological awareness, vocabulary, and oral language. These materials support preschool educators in strengthening instructional practice and promoting positive literacy outcomes for young learners.

Access the 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺: 𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺 materials here: https://ies.ed.gov/use-work/resource-library/resource/other-resource/professional-learning-community-emergent-literacy-0?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsflash -1-print-knowledge-sessions-1-3