Reading

The release of the results of the latest cycle of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) made headlines around the world. More than 760,000 students assessed internationally, representing around 33 million 15-year-olds from 91 countries and economies. But the initial data are just the beginning.

Australia’s 15-year-old students continue to perform above the OECD average across science, reading, and mathematics, the latest OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results show. In today’s article we share more about Australia’s performance and explore how it compares internationally.

Research involving over 110,000 children and young people has examined their audiobook listening habits in their spare time. Findings suggest that audiobooks can be a potential pathway into reading for students. We speak to the report’s lead author to find out more. 

New research has found that 36% of children and young people said they enjoyed reading in their free time either ‘very much’ or ‘quite a lot’. Participants were also asked if they agree with various statements about how reading in their free time helps them. We share the results in this infographic. 

Earlier this year, our podcast with Mandy Nayton – Educational and Developmental Psychologist and CEO of the Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation – explored ways to support students of all ages to read successfully. In the first of 3 follow-up articles, ACU Professor Genevieve McArthur – Director of Research Translation at the Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation – shares how reading difficulties can impact student wellbeing.

A UK study involving over 125,000 children and young people has shown an uptick in enjoyment of reading and daily reading habits. Latest findings also include gender differences for reading habits, and insights into what encourages young people to read for pleasure.

A new report has revealed the most popular ebook genres for K-12 students. The results were calculated by analysing 2025 data from all schools serving students in K-12 across Australia that use the Sora student reading app. Here, we share the most popular genres by state and territory. 

Media and Artificial Intelligence Literacy (MAIL) has been announced as the innovative domain for PISA 2029. The OECD has already released the first draft framework, offering an early understanding of how media literacy and AI literacy intersect and link to other curriculum areas, the key concepts and big ideas, and how to nurture the related competences.

In today’s podcast, CEO of the Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation and Educational and Developmental Psychologist, Mandy Nayton, joins Teacher’s Dominique Beech to share frameworks to support all students to read successfully. We cover essential phonics knowledge, morphology, vocabulary and word study, and also discuss how to support older students’ literacy skills. 

Recent research from Edith Cowan University highlights a lack of disability representation in children’s picture books. In today’s article, lead researcher Associate Professor Helen Adam discusses the study findings, and practical advice for K-12 teachers when it comes to selecting books for a school or classroom library.