Educators are finding that the science of reading and play go hand-in-hand—especially in the early years. Playful, hands-on experiences like block building, role-play, and guided games strengthen essential reading foundations such as letter recognition, phonological awareness, and vocabulary. States that have embraced this approach are seeing promising gains, showing that learning can be joyful and effective.

At Grade Level is bringing this research to life with WordBlox, our new interactive word-building game. Just like the activities highlighted in the study, WordBlox blends fun challenges with skill-building practice, helping kids grow their reading confidence while they play.

Give WordBlox a try and see how play can power reading success!

Fort Worth parents push for progress in reading proficiency

At the Bradley Community Center, families released lime green balloons into the sky—a symbol of hope for a future where every child in Fort Worth can read at grade level. The event came with a sobering reminder: 54% of local students are still not meeting grade-level reading benchmarks. Parents and advocates say the progress proves change is possible when a community comes together, but the work is far from done. With persistence, collaboration, and a focus on proven strategies, Fort Worth can keep moving toward a future where all children have the literacy skills they need to succeed.

Only 52% of Texas kids can read at grade level… It’s time to huddle up and make sure they are back-to-school ready. Have your child take the 5-minute reading test, and challenge your district to do better.

Back to school means back to reality: nearly 1 in 2 students can’t read at grade level. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, Keller Independent School District, Northwest ISD, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, where do your kids land on this list? Check your child’s reading and challenge your district to raise the score.