SCIENCE OF READING CURRICULUM

HMH literacy programs are informed by decades of research on how students learn to read and are designed around explicit, systematic instruction and a coherent progression of literacy skills. Instruction moves from simpler to more complex skills, building on previously taught skills through teacher modeling, guided practice, cumulative review, feedback, and opportunities to apply learning in reading and writing.

HMH literacy programs align with the science of reading by applying evidence about how students develop word recognition and language comprehension. HMH’s early literacy and intervention programs explicitly address the five pillars of reading—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Secondary core instruction emphasizes increasingly complex text, academic vocabulary, knowledge building, analysis, and writing. Across the K–12 continuum, skills progress from foundational literacy in the early grades to advanced reading comprehension and higher-order thinking in the secondary grades, supporting literacy development over time.

HMH literacy programs use a structured literacy approach by providing explicit, systematic, cumulative, and diagnostic instruction that builds literacy skills in a planned progression from simple to complex. Students develop an understanding of language at multiple levels, including phonological awareness, sound-symbol relationships, syllables, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Ongoing assessment and progress monitoring help educators determine when to reteach, provide additional practice, or extend learning.

HMH literacy programs teach foundational literacy skills through a sequenced progression of phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding and encoding, spelling, and fluency. Students build and reinforce these skills through direct instruction and focused practice and apply them in connected reading and writing. As students advance, word study progresses to multisyllabic words, morphology, syntax, and Greek and Latin roots, extending foundational learning to support increasingly complex reading and writing.

HMH literacy programs develop language comprehension through explicit vocabulary instruction and knowledge building with authentic literary and informational texts. Students build background and topic knowledge as they read connected texts, explore ideas across disciplines, discuss what they read, and use new vocabulary in meaningful contexts. Making connections across topics expands the vocabulary and knowledge students can draw on to deepen comprehension.

HMH literacy programs integrate reading and writing based on research showing that developing these skills together strengthens vocabulary, knowledge, comprehension, and overall literacy. Students write in response to literary and informational texts while receiving explicit instruction in the writing process, grammar, conventions, and writing craft. Reading and writing experiences give students opportunities to use text evidence, synthesize knowledge, and communicate their understanding across genres.

Instruction aligned with the science of reading progresses from building foundational literacy skills in the elementary grades to developing advanced comprehension and higher-order thinking in the secondary grades. HMH Into Reading for Grades K–6 provides systematic instruction in foundational reading and writing skills while strengthening language comprehension and knowledge through authentic texts. HMH Into Literature for Grades 6–12 extends that foundation as students analyze increasingly complex texts, expand academic vocabulary and knowledge, and move from guided practice toward greater independence.  This K–12 progression connects foundational skills with advanced reading, writing, and thinking.

HMH literacy programs support differentiation by combining evidence-based literacy instruction with assessment data and flexible resources that help educators respond to individual learning needs. Teachers can use formative checks to identify areas for support, form flexible groups, and provide scaffolded or extended practice through teacher-led small-group instruction. For students who need intensive intervention, Read 180 provides a dedicated, teacher-led intervention model for Grades 3–12, while Read 180 Flex provides targeted reading intervention within the grade-level classroom. HMH core literacy programs can also be paired with Amira, Waggle, and Writable to provide personalized reading tutoring, adaptive practice, and scaffolded writing support. 

HMH literacy solutions deliver research-based reading intervention grounded in the science of reading for students who need additional support to meet grade-level expectations. Built on more than 25 years of research and proven results, Read 180 provides intensive, teacher-led reading intervention for students in Grades 3–12, with explicit and systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and writing, supported by ongoing assessment and targeted practice. Read 180 Flex extends this approach within the grade-level classroom, providing targeted reading intervention for students performing below grade level. Amira complements instruction with 1:1 reading tutoring and science of reading-based micro-interventions that provide additional practice and support. 

HMH literacy programs support science of reading instruction with assessment and progress-monitoring tools that help educators identify specific skill needs, track growth, and use data to inform instruction and intervention. Core literacy programs use embedded assessments and formative checks to inform instructional decisions, while Read 180 incorporates ongoing assessment to personalize intervention and monitor progress. Amira provides oral reading fluency assessment and dyslexia risk screening; Waggle provides real-time insights into skills mastery; and Writable provides writing assessment and rubric-aligned scoring.

HMH provides professional learning that helps teachers and leaders deepen their understanding of science of reading research and apply evidence-based literacy practices in classrooms and schools. Onsite and virtual courses, workshops, and instructional coaching cover key areas of literacy development, from foundational skills and language comprehension to writing, assessment, and intervention. Educators can also access embedded, on-demand professional learning through HMH Ed to support ongoing implementation. Educators gain practical routines and resources for putting science of reading research into practice and sustaining effective literacy instruction over time.