🌸 Spring into Action: National Reading Month may be ending—but the work continues.

Standing with National Literacy Leaders, Introducing National Reading Legislation
(from left) Kareem Weaver (Co-Founder and CEO, Fulcrum Literacy; former NAACP), Keri Rodrigues (Co-Founder and Founding President, National Parents Union), Luisa Sparrow (Massachusetts Teacher of the Year), our Clever Noodle Founder, Jacquelyn Davis, Ralph Smith (CEO, Campaign for Grade-Level Reading), and Brett Tingley (Founder and President, Parents for Reading Justice).

Dive into our Latest March Newsletter here!

As National Reading Month comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the energy, urgency, and momentum building around literacy. 📚✨

This March, we saw that momentum up close. From participating in a Congressional briefing on the Science of Reading—cohosted by the National Parents’ Union and the George W. Bush Institute—to joining educators, advocates, and families at Black Literacy Matters, one thing was clear: the movement to get reading right is growing stronger.

At the Congressional briefing, alongside leaders like Congressman Josh Harder, Senate staff, Kareem Weaver, and literacy leaders from across the country, the conversation wasn’t just about why literacy matters—it was about what it will take to ensure every child learns to read. The energy in the room was electric—and deeply motivating.

Key focus areas in upcoming federal literacy legislation:

1. Evidence-Based Mandate: Requires federal grants (CLSD) to fund only the "five pillars" of literacy: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

2. The "Three-Cueing" Ban: Explicitly prohibits federal funding for programs that teach kids to guess words using pictures or context clues instead of decoding. Ask your school if they are using a science-backed curriculum?

3. Systematic Instruction: Prioritizes "explicit and cumulative" teaching—moving logically from basic letter sounds to complex words.

4. Comprehensive Literacy: Mandates that instruction includes writing and background knowledge to ensure students understand what they are reading, not just how to sound it out.

At Clever Noodle, we’re carrying that momentum forward in our own way.

This month, we’re especially excited to share something close to our hearts: the launch of our new Alphabet Puzzle—the only alphabet puzzle on the market aligned to the science of how children learn to read. Read more below about what makes this puzzle right for children.  🧩

Alongside that, we’re bringing you:

• The latest insights from literacy research, policy, and practice

• Resources to support educators and families

• And tools to help turn everyday moments into opportunities for reading growth

Because while March may be ending, the work of building strong readers continues every day.

Let’s keep it going. 📖