ReadWorks October Update: Dr. Susanne Nobles Recognized as Top 10 Chief Academic Officer of 202510/28/2025 As schools across the nation are now in full swing, educators and learners alike are actively engaging with ReadWorks. Our donors make our work possible and are building stronger readers every day - thank you. We are pleased to share recent highlights of our work to support literacy development for millions of students.
This one-of-a-kind museum is home to the largest public collection of quilts in the world and is housed at the University of Nebraska. Our partnership amplifies the rich history of this art form and helps to preserve and share the diverse stories told through quilting. ReadWorks and IQM bring these narratives to life in classrooms across the country—providing 92 high-interest texts and questions to engage readers and explore culture, folklore, history, and design. You can read more about the impact and reach of our partnership in the case study.
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Your commitment to reading comprehension is instrumental to the work that ReadWorks is doing to impact millions of students and teachers. Thank you! Missed an issue of our newsletter? See an archive of all our supporter updates here. Have ideas for what you would like to see in our updates? Please email [email protected].
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Download a free, easy-to-use handout for parent-teacher conferences. Give parents the tools they need to support their child's reading comprehension at home with ReadWorks. Parent-teacher conferences are a critical, but often a brief amount of time to connect with families. You have a few minutes to discuss a student's progress and, ideally, provide simple ways for parents to help at home. When it comes to reading, bridging that home-school gap is essential. ReadWorks is here to make that conversation easier. ➡️ Download the parent-teacher conference hand out here. Your "Done-for-You" Reading Resource for Parents and Caregivers We’ve created a simple, one-page handout that teachers can share with families to introduce ReadWorks as a tool for at-home support, no matter the grade level K-12. This guide helps parents quickly understand how to:
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| As a mission-based nonprofit dedicated to providing high-quality resources, the ReadWorks team has always been committed to safeguarding the data entrusted to us. We are incredibly proud to announce a significant milestone in this journey: ReadWorks has successfully achieved its SOC 2 Type 2 Certification. |  |
What is a SOC 2 audit?
A SOC 2 audit is a third-party evaluation of an organization's information security practices. It assesses how effectively an organization protects data.
What does this mean for teachers and administrators?
For the school districts, educators, and parents who rely on our platform, this "Unqualified" status is the gold standard in compliance, signifying that our systems and processes meet the most rigorous industry benchmarks with no exceptions or outstanding qualifications.
Procurement teams in schools and districts nationwide expect stringent security standards from edtech partners. SOC 2 certification opens doors for our organization to partner with more schools, bringing our evidence-based reading resources to even more teachers and students.
Every student deserves access to high-quality, research-based resources, and every educator deserves tools they can trust. With our SOC 2 certification, ReadWorks reinforces our promise to be a trusted resource.
If your school or district is seeking a signed agreement with ReadWorks, please email [email protected] or visit our data privacy agreements page.
A SOC 2 audit is a third-party evaluation of an organization's information security practices. It assesses how effectively an organization protects data.
What does this mean for teachers and administrators?
For the school districts, educators, and parents who rely on our platform, this "Unqualified" status is the gold standard in compliance, signifying that our systems and processes meet the most rigorous industry benchmarks with no exceptions or outstanding qualifications.
Procurement teams in schools and districts nationwide expect stringent security standards from edtech partners. SOC 2 certification opens doors for our organization to partner with more schools, bringing our evidence-based reading resources to even more teachers and students.
Every student deserves access to high-quality, research-based resources, and every educator deserves tools they can trust. With our SOC 2 certification, ReadWorks reinforces our promise to be a trusted resource.
If your school or district is seeking a signed agreement with ReadWorks, please email [email protected] or visit our data privacy agreements page.
At ReadWorks, we know teaching reading can be tough. During the school year, it’s easy for student engagement to dip, for background knowledge gaps to grow, and for teachers to feel stretched thin. That’s why we’re here to help.
Our mission is simple: provide teachers with 100% free, research-based literacy resources that actually make a difference. From reading comprehension worksheets to structured phonics practice, everything in our library is designed to support you and your students—at no cost, ever.
In this post, we’ll share three proven, data-backed ways to improve reading comprehension for grades K–8 using resources available on ReadWorks:
Our mission is simple: provide teachers with 100% free, research-based literacy resources that actually make a difference. From reading comprehension worksheets to structured phonics practice, everything in our library is designed to support you and your students—at no cost, ever.
In this post, we’ll share three proven, data-backed ways to improve reading comprehension for grades K–8 using resources available on ReadWorks:
- Article-A-Day (Grades K–8) → Get Started
- Decodable Readers (Grades K–2) → Get Started
- High-Quality Reading Passages with Comprehension Questions (Grades K–8) → Get Started
1. Build Background Knowledge with Article-A-Day
One of the most powerful predictors of reading comprehension is background knowledge. Even students who can decode words fluently often struggle when they lack context for the topic they’re reading about. That’s why Article-A-Day was created: to systematically build knowledge, vocabulary, and confidence.
With this 10–15 minute daily routine, students read high-interest, nonfiction articles across a wide variety of subjects ranging from science and history to arts and culture. Over time, this exposure creates a broad base of knowledge that fuels comprehension.
Why it works:
How teachers use it:
With this 10–15 minute daily routine, students read high-interest, nonfiction articles across a wide variety of subjects ranging from science and history to arts and culture. Over time, this exposure creates a broad base of knowledge that fuels comprehension.
Why it works:
- Grounded in research: Decades of cognitive science show that comprehension depends heavily on what students already know (→ The Research).
- Vocabulary growth: Article-A-Day helps students naturally acquire new words, boosting comprehension and writing skills (→ Grow Vocabularies).
How teachers use it:
- Classroom routine: Just 10 minutes a day, followed by reflections in the “Book of Knowledge.”
- Digital flexibility: Articles are available online, making them perfect for independent reading, homework, or blended learning (→ Independent Readers).
- Accessible for all learners: Leveled articles ensure every student can participate.
Ready to start?
We’ve planned Article-A-Day for your entire school year! Click your grade level below to view the August-June weekly scope and sequence.
We’ve planned Article-A-Day for your entire school year! Click your grade level below to view the August-June weekly scope and sequence.
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2. Strengthen Word Recognition with Decodable Readers (Grades K–2)
For early readers, comprehension can’t happen without strong decoding skills. If students struggle to recognize words, they can’t focus on meaning. That’s why ReadWorks, in partnership with UFLI Foundations and Fundations, created Decodable Readers aligned with the Science of Reading.
These short texts are carefully designed to match phonics instruction. Instead of guessing at words, students practice applying phonics knowledge until recognition is automatic.
Why it works:
These short texts are carefully designed to match phonics instruction. Instead of guessing at words, students practice applying phonics knowledge until recognition is automatic.
Why it works:
- Aligned with research: Structured Literacy approaches emphasize explicit phonics instruction and decodable text practice. Together, these build the foundation for fluency and comprehension (→ The Research).
- Stronger comprehension outcomes: Experts emphasize that word recognition and comprehension develop together when students have decodables to bridge the gap (→ Webinar with UFLI).
- Boosts confidence: Decodables allow students to read entire texts independently, which motivates them to keep practicing.
- By concept: Browse our library by phonics skill (short vowels, digraphs, blends) to match your scope and sequence (→ Decodables By Concept).
- Small groups: Use during interventions to reinforce specific phonics patterns.
- Home connection: Share with families for additional practice outside the classroom.
Ready to start?
We’ve got UFLI-aligned and Fundations-aligned decodable readers organized into their own scope and sequence. Check them out below.
UFLI Aligned Decodables →
Fundations Aligned Decodables →
We’ve got UFLI-aligned and Fundations-aligned decodable readers organized into their own scope and sequence. Check them out below.
UFLI Aligned Decodables →
Fundations Aligned Decodables →
3. Deepen Comprehension with Reading Passages
ReadWorks is best known for its classic reading passages and comprehension worksheets, available for grades K–12. With thousands of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry texts – each paired with multiple-choice and open-ended comprehension questions – teachers can easily target key skills.
Why it works:
Why it works:
- Direct practice with comprehension skills: Passages and questions give students repeated practice with text structure, inferring, and citing evidence (→ Reading Passages).
- Exposure to complex text: Students engage with grade-appropriate rigor, but passages are leveled so every reader can succeed (→ Differentiation).
- Encourages comparative reasoning and deeper connections: Paired texts let students read two articles on a common topic or theme, then answer scaffolded questions that guide them to compare, contrast, and synthesize ideas across both texts. This structure helps build comprehension, reinforce vocabulary, and deepen content knowledge (→ Paired Texts).
- Whole group: Model comprehension strategies with a shared passage.
- Independent work: Assign passages and auto-graded questions for quick insights.
Ready to start?
We’ve got 6,000+ completely free passages with reading comprehension worksheets and other activities to support learning. Click your grade level below to get started.
We’ve got 6,000+ completely free passages with reading comprehension worksheets and other activities to support learning. Click your grade level below to get started.
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Why Free Matters
At ReadWorks, we believe every teacher deserves access to high-quality materials, no matter their budget. That’s why our entire library – from Article-A-Day to Decodable Readers to reading comprehension worksheets – is always 100% free.
There are no subscriptions, hidden fees, or premium tiers. Just the resources you need to help your students grow.
Key Takeaways
There are no subscriptions, hidden fees, or premium tiers. Just the resources you need to help your students grow.
Key Takeaways
- Knowledge matters: Article-A-Day builds the background knowledge comprehension depends on.
- Phonics matters: Decodable Readers strengthen word recognition, the gateway to understanding.
- Practice matters: Reading passages and reading comprehension worksheets provide structured, repeatable practice to grow comprehension skills.
Ready to dive in?
Explore our free library today and start using Article-A-Day, Decodable Readers, and Reading Passages with your students. With free reading comprehension worksheets at your fingertips, you’ll have everything you need to support stronger, more confident readers.e to edit.
I’ve been using ReadWorks for years as a go-to resource in my classroom. When our school adopted Amplify CKLA two years ago, I was excited, but also immediately noticed a gap. While CKLA offers strong content, there just wasn’t enough time built in for kids to read independently, to practice fluency, or to really engage with the texts in a meaningful way. There were only a few passages per unit, and I knew my students needed more.
That’s when ReadWorks became more essential than ever. I found out through the Amplify materials that ReadWorks has aligned articles for many of the CKLA modules, and I’ve used it every day since. I print out the articles and my students actually prefer reading that way. It makes learning feel accessible and hands-on.
One of the biggest highlights was our unit on the Renaissance. My students were captivated by the articles on knights and castles. The passage on the life of a serf sparked such rich discussion, and the way the text was organized made it easier for my students to grasp complex ideas. They even enjoyed the open-ended questions, a huge win in fourth grade.
That’s when ReadWorks became more essential than ever. I found out through the Amplify materials that ReadWorks has aligned articles for many of the CKLA modules, and I’ve used it every day since. I print out the articles and my students actually prefer reading that way. It makes learning feel accessible and hands-on.
One of the biggest highlights was our unit on the Renaissance. My students were captivated by the articles on knights and castles. The passage on the life of a serf sparked such rich discussion, and the way the text was organized made it easier for my students to grasp complex ideas. They even enjoyed the open-ended questions, a huge win in fourth grade.
Using ReadWorks daily also helped us meet one of our key academic goals this year: fluency. I used printed articles for partner reading every single day. We read aloud together, then students read to each other. As a result, our DIBELS fluency scores jumped from 68% to 89%. All but two students ended the year in the green or blue zone. That kind of growth wouldn’t have happened without ReadWorks supplementing CKLA.
The pairing has been especially helpful for science and social studies, too. We switched to Amplify Science, and while it’s informative, it’s also focused on teacher talk. My students needed more reading and connection. ReadWorks filled that gap. We used aligned science articles to build vocabulary, comprehension, and content knowledge, and it kept them engaged.
Another reason I rely on ReadWorks is the ability to differentiate. I can select articles at different Lexile levels and pair stronger readers with students who need more support while I do 1:1 check-ins. This kind of flexible, responsive teaching just wouldn’t be possible with CKLA alone.
I also use ReadWorks in real time during assessments. If a student rushes through a passage, I can quickly reassign it or use another aligned article as a quiz to reinforce the skill. I love that I can see how they’re doing and respond right away.
To any teacher using CKLA who hasn’t explored ReadWorks yet, I would say:
“Use it. It’s aligned. It’s free. It’s incredible. Why not?” ReadWorks doesn’t just supplement CKLA, it completes it.
- Sarah C., 4th grade teacher, New Hampshire
Together, they provide a well-rounded reading experience that builds fluency, comprehension, and background knowledge.
Last year, 83% of my students hit their reading benchmarks. That wasn’t luck. It was the result of using these two tools together in a purposeful way. CKLA gives me strong content, but ReadWorks is what brings it to life for my students.
Last year, 83% of my students hit their reading benchmarks. That wasn’t luck. It was the result of using these two tools together in a purposeful way. CKLA gives me strong content, but ReadWorks is what brings it to life for my students.
