Karen Vaites
@karenvaites.bsky.social
Literacy advocate, children’s advocate, mom.
Note the difference between the choices in Southern Surge states and the Peach state.
November 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Note the difference between the choices in Southern Surge states and the Peach state.
In 2023, Georgia passed legislation that included curriculum reform.
Two years after its quirky curriculum list debuted, we get a glimpse of district selections.
Spoiler: it isn’t good.
Georgia is on my mind, BC it offers a window into implementation failure.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
Two years after its quirky curriculum list debuted, we get a glimpse of district selections.
Spoiler: it isn’t good.
Georgia is on my mind, BC it offers a window into implementation failure.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
November 20, 2025 at 12:51 PM
In 2023, Georgia passed legislation that included curriculum reform.
Two years after its quirky curriculum list debuted, we get a glimpse of district selections.
Spoiler: it isn’t good.
Georgia is on my mind, BC it offers a window into implementation failure.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
Two years after its quirky curriculum list debuted, we get a glimpse of district selections.
Spoiler: it isn’t good.
Georgia is on my mind, BC it offers a window into implementation failure.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
Middle School Parenting be like
November 8, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Middle School Parenting be like
“You don’t actually expect every state to follow Mississippi and Louisiana in how they teach reading?”
November 7, 2025 at 11:45 AM
“You don’t actually expect every state to follow Mississippi and Louisiana in how they teach reading?”
EdReports is looking for feedback on “how we can continue to earn and strengthen your trust.”
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
November 6, 2025 at 7:17 PM
EdReports is looking for feedback on “how we can continue to earn and strengthen your trust.”
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
How do we retain our best teachers – because our best teachers are good at raising outcomes?
While learning from the shortcomings of the merit pay era?
@margueriteroza.bsky.social spotlights some initiatives worth knowing.
mailchi.mp/3cf64c47e1d4...
While learning from the shortcomings of the merit pay era?
@margueriteroza.bsky.social spotlights some initiatives worth knowing.
mailchi.mp/3cf64c47e1d4...
November 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
How do we retain our best teachers – because our best teachers are good at raising outcomes?
While learning from the shortcomings of the merit pay era?
@margueriteroza.bsky.social spotlights some initiatives worth knowing.
mailchi.mp/3cf64c47e1d4...
While learning from the shortcomings of the merit pay era?
@margueriteroza.bsky.social spotlights some initiatives worth knowing.
mailchi.mp/3cf64c47e1d4...
Here is some quick clarification on the differences between MA content standards and curriculum, to connect @daisychristo.bsky.social’s points.
CKLA curriculum & content framework are different. See attached timeline.
I am not an expert on MA in the 1990s, but I know CKLA was not yet available.
CKLA curriculum & content framework are different. See attached timeline.
I am not an expert on MA in the 1990s, but I know CKLA was not yet available.
November 4, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Here is some quick clarification on the differences between MA content standards and curriculum, to connect @daisychristo.bsky.social’s points.
CKLA curriculum & content framework are different. See attached timeline.
I am not an expert on MA in the 1990s, but I know CKLA was not yet available.
CKLA curriculum & content framework are different. See attached timeline.
I am not an expert on MA in the 1990s, but I know CKLA was not yet available.
Facing declines in reading performance, Massachusetts legislators are advancing a bill that touches a 3rd rail: curriculum mandates.
I'm here to explain why MA absolutely needs this bill – and also to sound some alarms.🚨
Literacy friends, read until the end. 👀
www.karenvaites.org/p/massachuse...
I'm here to explain why MA absolutely needs this bill – and also to sound some alarms.🚨
Literacy friends, read until the end. 👀
www.karenvaites.org/p/massachuse...
November 2, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Facing declines in reading performance, Massachusetts legislators are advancing a bill that touches a 3rd rail: curriculum mandates.
I'm here to explain why MA absolutely needs this bill – and also to sound some alarms.🚨
Literacy friends, read until the end. 👀
www.karenvaites.org/p/massachuse...
I'm here to explain why MA absolutely needs this bill – and also to sound some alarms.🚨
Literacy friends, read until the end. 👀
www.karenvaites.org/p/massachuse...
Costume almost fooled us.
October 31, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Costume almost fooled us.
Astute observation from @evidentlyreading.bsky.social.
Lucy Calkins made teachers think ELA classrooms for novice readers should mirror the practices of adults, and that would make kids love reading.
open.substack.com/pub/curricul...
Lucy Calkins made teachers think ELA classrooms for novice readers should mirror the practices of adults, and that would make kids love reading.
open.substack.com/pub/curricul...
October 31, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Astute observation from @evidentlyreading.bsky.social.
Lucy Calkins made teachers think ELA classrooms for novice readers should mirror the practices of adults, and that would make kids love reading.
open.substack.com/pub/curricul...
Lucy Calkins made teachers think ELA classrooms for novice readers should mirror the practices of adults, and that would make kids love reading.
open.substack.com/pub/curricul...
October 29, 2025 at 2:20 PM
This is the most important dichotomy in American education.
Every state is Doing Something to improve reading instruction in the Science of Reading era.
Only four states have student outcomes to show for it.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
Every state is Doing Something to improve reading instruction in the Science of Reading era.
Only four states have student outcomes to show for it.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
October 27, 2025 at 3:36 PM
This is the most important dichotomy in American education.
Every state is Doing Something to improve reading instruction in the Science of Reading era.
Only four states have student outcomes to show for it.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
Every state is Doing Something to improve reading instruction in the Science of Reading era.
Only four states have student outcomes to show for it.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
This is the question of the hour.
I wrote about it this week. Spoiler: the answer is "don't count on it."
Read on:
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
I wrote about it this week. Spoiler: the answer is "don't count on it."
Read on:
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
October 25, 2025 at 7:29 PM
This is the question of the hour.
I wrote about it this week. Spoiler: the answer is "don't count on it."
Read on:
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
I wrote about it this week. Spoiler: the answer is "don't count on it."
Read on:
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
Finally, the Southern Surge is getting the national attention it deserves. 🙌
I collected the key articles from the last month, in case you missed them. Honestly, they came so fast and furious that I haven’t been able to post them all here.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
I collected the key articles from the last month, in case you missed them. Honestly, they came so fast and furious that I haven’t been able to post them all here.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
October 24, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Finally, the Southern Surge is getting the national attention it deserves. 🙌
I collected the key articles from the last month, in case you missed them. Honestly, they came so fast and furious that I haven’t been able to post them all here.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
I collected the key articles from the last month, in case you missed them. Honestly, they came so fast and furious that I haven’t been able to post them all here.
open.substack.com/pub/karenvai...
Know someone struggling to believe that the Mississippi story is legit?
Just send them to @rweingarten.bsky.social. She knows what’s up.
Just send them to @rweingarten.bsky.social. She knows what’s up.
October 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Know someone struggling to believe that the Mississippi story is legit?
Just send them to @rweingarten.bsky.social. She knows what’s up.
Just send them to @rweingarten.bsky.social. She knows what’s up.
Kelsey Piper and I penned a detailed piece unpacking the Southern Surge, in response to a Freddie DeBoer straw man.
“First, we must get straight on the plays in the Southern Surge playbook. BC, for the love of God, it’s not just phonics,” we wrote.
DeBoer responds with… a long rant about phonics.
“First, we must get straight on the plays in the Southern Surge playbook. BC, for the love of God, it’s not just phonics,” we wrote.
DeBoer responds with… a long rant about phonics.
October 14, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Kelsey Piper and I penned a detailed piece unpacking the Southern Surge, in response to a Freddie DeBoer straw man.
“First, we must get straight on the plays in the Southern Surge playbook. BC, for the love of God, it’s not just phonics,” we wrote.
DeBoer responds with… a long rant about phonics.
“First, we must get straight on the plays in the Southern Surge playbook. BC, for the love of God, it’s not just phonics,” we wrote.
DeBoer responds with… a long rant about phonics.
Kelsey Piper and I penned a detailed piece unpacking the Southern Surge, in response to a Freddie DeBoer straw man.
“First, we must get straight on the plays in the Southern Surge playbook. BC, for the love of God, it’s not just phonics,” we wrote.
DeBoer responds with… a long rant about phonics.
“First, we must get straight on the plays in the Southern Surge playbook. BC, for the love of God, it’s not just phonics,” we wrote.
DeBoer responds with… a long rant about phonics.
October 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Kelsey Piper and I penned a detailed piece unpacking the Southern Surge, in response to a Freddie DeBoer straw man.
“First, we must get straight on the plays in the Southern Surge playbook. BC, for the love of God, it’s not just phonics,” we wrote.
DeBoer responds with… a long rant about phonics.
“First, we must get straight on the plays in the Southern Surge playbook. BC, for the love of God, it’s not just phonics,” we wrote.
DeBoer responds with… a long rant about phonics.
Phonics fixes everything.
October 13, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Phonics fixes everything.
I am still seeing plenty of Misssissippi doubters in the mean streets of social media.
I believe my piece with Kelsey Piper debunked these narratives, as well as one can.
Please give it a read:
open.substack.com/pub/theargum...
I believe my piece with Kelsey Piper debunked these narratives, as well as one can.
Please give it a read:
open.substack.com/pub/theargum...
October 13, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I am still seeing plenty of Misssissippi doubters in the mean streets of social media.
I believe my piece with Kelsey Piper debunked these narratives, as well as one can.
Please give it a read:
open.substack.com/pub/theargum...
I believe my piece with Kelsey Piper debunked these narratives, as well as one can.
Please give it a read:
open.substack.com/pub/theargum...
Teacher preparation in America is such a mess.
“@NCTQ’s analysis revealed that 40% of teacher prep programs are still teaching two or more practices that are incompatible with scientifically based reading instruction.”
www.nctq.org/research-ins...
“@NCTQ’s analysis revealed that 40% of teacher prep programs are still teaching two or more practices that are incompatible with scientifically based reading instruction.”
www.nctq.org/research-ins...
October 9, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Teacher preparation in America is such a mess.
“@NCTQ’s analysis revealed that 40% of teacher prep programs are still teaching two or more practices that are incompatible with scientifically based reading instruction.”
www.nctq.org/research-ins...
“@NCTQ’s analysis revealed that 40% of teacher prep programs are still teaching two or more practices that are incompatible with scientifically based reading instruction.”
www.nctq.org/research-ins...
I’m getting this Q a lot, and I may pull together a reading list blog, BC there is a LOT of good content coming out right now specific to upper grades.
Let’s start with some crowdsourcing!
As for new research, the most striking thing reading is the decoding threshold research…
🧵
Let’s start with some crowdsourcing!
As for new research, the most striking thing reading is the decoding threshold research…
🧵
October 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I’m getting this Q a lot, and I may pull together a reading list blog, BC there is a LOT of good content coming out right now specific to upper grades.
Let’s start with some crowdsourcing!
As for new research, the most striking thing reading is the decoding threshold research…
🧵
Let’s start with some crowdsourcing!
As for new research, the most striking thing reading is the decoding threshold research…
🧵
Overdue leadership transition at EdReports:
October 5, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Overdue leadership transition at EdReports:
I was pleased to learn that Dana has read my writeup on elementary and middle school curricula. But the explanation she gave about focusing on HS first just doesn’t make sense.
My rationale below:
My rationale below:
September 27, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I was pleased to learn that Dana has read my writeup on elementary and middle school curricula. But the explanation she gave about focusing on HS first just doesn’t make sense.
My rationale below:
My rationale below: