What Works in Early Reading Materials

The emphasis on early grade reading in international education has created a significant demand for a very specific type of instructional material: research-based reading textbooks and other reading materials for young learners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in mother tongues. High-quality early reading materials are needed in mother tongues—in sufficient quantities to ensure access for all learners—at a cost that ministries of education in LMICs can sustain in the long term.

The focus of this paper is on how to achieve high-quality, cost-efficient teaching and learning materials for early grade literacy in the context of international cooperation programs with ministries of education.