Hot Topics in Literacy Education for 2015

The International Reading Association released its annual list that forecasts "hot" topics in literacy education. Hot is not the same as important, but indicates an area of high interest or even debate among reading experts.  Conducted by Jack Cassidy and Stephanie Grote-Garcia, the 2015 survey polled 25 leading literacy scholars and researchers to find what's hot and what's not.

2015 IRA LITERACY SURVEY

HOT AND SHOULD BE HOT:

• Common Core State Standards
• Close Reading/Deep Reading
• Digital Literacies/New Literacies
• College and Career Readiness
• Informational/Nonfiction Texts
• Text Complexity
• Argumentative Writing

SHOULD BE VERY HOT:

• Preschool Literacy Experiences
• Adolescent Literacy
• Comprehension
• English Learners/ English as a Second Language

COLD BUT SHOULD BE HOT:

• Literacy Coaches
• Creative Writing
• Professional Development
• Motivation/Engagement
• Struggling Readers (Grade 4 and older)

SHOULD NOT BE HOT:

• Phonics/ phonemic Awareness
• Fluency
• High-Stakes Testing

(Cassidy & Grote-Garcia, 2014)

Hot Topics in Literacy Education for 2014

The International Reading Association released its annual list that forecasts "hot" topics in literacy education. Hot is not the same as important, but indicates an area of high interest or even debate among reading experts.  Conducted by Jack Cassidy and Stephanie Grote-Garcia, the 2014 survey polled 25 leading literacy scholars and researchers to find what's hot and what's not.

2014 IRA LITERACY SURVEY

HOT AND SHOULD BE HOT:

• Common Core State Standards
• Close Reading/Deep Reading
• Disciplinary/Content Area Literacy
• College and Career Readiness
• Informational/Nonfiction Texts
• Text Complexity

NOT HOT BUT SHOULD BE VERY HOT:

• Preschool Literacy Instruction/Experiences
• Adolescent Literacies
• Motivation/Engagement
• Struggling/Striving Readers (4th grade +)
• Writing

NOT HOT BUT SHOULD BE HOT:

• Literacy Coaches
• Critical Reading and Writing
• Differentiated Instruction
• Early Intervention (K-3)
• Formative Assessment
• Professional Development for Inservice Teachers
• Teacher Education for Preservice Teachers

NOT HOT AND SHOULD NOT BE HOT:

• Phonics
• Phonemic Awareness
• Fluency
• International Comparisons

(Cassidy & Grote-Garcia, 2013)

Surprisingly,  lukewarm topics include digital literacies, English language learners, and political/policy influences, along with waning topics comprehension and vocabulary. The experts agree these should all be hotter!

Hot Topics in Literacy Education

The International Reading Association's 2009 survey revealed the following "hot" topics in literacy education:

adolescent literacy
English as a second language/English–language learners
high–stakes assessment
literacy coaches/reading coaches
response to intervention (RTI)
comprehension
early literacy
struggling/striving readers (grade 4 and above)

Other ideas for hot topics include:
gender and literacy
poverty and literacy
graphic novels
films and media
popular culture

These topics were NOT HOT:
phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary