Pathways Literacy Center

"About five or six years ago, teachers started noticing correlations between students who performed highly on the Cognitive Abilities Test created by Riverside Insights but did poorly on achievement testing because they were twice exceptional..."

Read more: https://www.k12dive.com/news/how-two-districts-are-finding-gifted-students-hiding-in-plain-sight/818830/

So often reading intervention in middle school and high school is very focused on comprehension. As our board member Mindy states, often that is NOT the root problem!

What is the science of reading? The Reading League
"The science of reading is a vast, interdisciplinary body of scientifically-based research about reading and issues related to reading and writing.

This research has been conducted over the last five decades across the world, and it is derived from thousands of studies conducted in multiple languages. The science of reading has culminated in a preponderance of evidence to inform how proficient reading and writing develop; why some have difficulty; and how we can most effectively assess and teach and, therefore, improve student outcomes through prevention of and intervention for reading difficulties."

https://www.thereadingleague.org/what-is-the-science-of-reading/ #:~:text=The%20science%20of%20reading%20is,related%20to%20reading%20and%20writing.

Executive function is so commonly misunderstood.

And I get why.

EF is an incredibly complex cognitive system

that doesn't function by itself.

It's not possible to *just* see executive function.

We're always analyzing and assessing the executive function system in the context of how it regulates another process.

For example, a child may present with reading challenges. The surface-level symptom is the reading difficulty,

but underneath, the EF system may be struggling to remember the sounds long enough to attach them to symbols/letters (verbal working memory need).

Or a child may present with a language development need. The surface-level symptom is the delay in vocabulary and communication development,

but underneath, the EF system may be struggling to perceive and orient the brain and body to the environment in order to take in environmental stimuli.

EF is always in the background conducting how learning takes place.

We often judge executive function by the visible output while missing the invisible cognitive processes underneath.

And when we misunderstand the process, we often misunderstand the child.

Which EF misunderstanding do you see the most?

https://improvingliteracy.org/resource/what-40-years-of-research-says-about-reading-and-dyslexia/?fbclid=IwRlRTSAR5LnlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeCwbSJ8SPc5rVaVowEWMUX3G1pPWCTob3ACzad0xgOgSnD_-mZv4oqtIOrZ8_aem_dxcypSMCw0KR6ZSVuZFj_Q

improvingliteracy.org

The 2026 State of Dyslexia report just dropped…and it might be the most useful free resource you download all year. 👇

The National Center on Improving Literacy breaks down where every state stands on dyslexia screening, structured literacy training, and access to evidence-based intervention. Even outside a traditional classroom, knowing your state’s landscape helps you ask better questions and advocate more confidently for your reader.

Look up your state in minutes, then pass it along to your homeschool group or anyone supporting struggling readers in your community.

Read the report here: https://www.stateofdyslexia.org/state-of-dyslexia-report-2026