Science of Reading by Grade Level: Which Courses Are Right for You?

Science of Reading (SoR) training looks different depending on where you teach. A kindergarten teacher building phonemic awareness skills has different needs than a high school history teacher working on disciplinary literacy — or a reading specialist designing interventions for struggling readers. The good news is that the research applies across all of it. Here’s how to find the right starting point for your grade level and role.

Elementary Teachers: Grades K-5

Elementary teachers are on the front lines of reading instruction. At this level, the focus is on the foundational pillars of SoR — phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency — and getting them right early makes an enormous difference in student outcomes.

If you teach K-5, start here:

Early Reading Skills (5 Hours) — A solid introduction to evidence-based early literacy strategies. Completable in a single sitting. Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

Systematic and Phonemic Reading Instruction (15 Hours) — Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

SoR: Reading Foundations (60 Hours) — Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

SoR: Assessment Strategies for Reading (60 Hours) — Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

Middle and High School Teachers: Grades 6-12

SoR isn’t just for elementary teachers. In fact, middle and high school teachers play a critical role in extending literacy skills across content areas — math, science, social studies, PE, music, and beyond. Vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension don’t stop mattering after third grade. They become more complex.

If you teach grades 6-12, start here:

Reading Across the Curriculum (5 Hours) — How reading instruction applies across every subject area. A great entry point for any secondary teacher. Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

Reading in Content Areas (5 Hours) — Practical strategies for building literacy skills within your specific content area. Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

Literacy Across the Curriculum (15 Hours) — A comprehensive look at disciplinary literacy for secondary teachers. Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

SoR: Reading and Writing in Content Areas (60 Hours) — Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

Reading Specialists and Interventionists

If your role is to support struggling readers or coach fellow teachers, you need a deeper understanding of assessment, intervention design, and instructional leadership. These courses are built for that level of expertise.

Systematic and Phonemic Reading Instruction (15 Hours) — Essential phonics and phonemic awareness knowledge for anyone working with struggling readers. Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

SoR: Assessment Strategies for Reading (60 Hours) — Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

SoR: Instructional Practices in Reading (60 Hours) — Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

Administrators and School Leaders

Implementing Science of Reading school-wide requires leadership that understands the research. This course is designed specifically for principals, assistant principals, and district leaders overseeing literacy initiatives.

Implementing Science of Reading for Administrators (20 Hours) — Also available for graduate credit. Find courses in your state.

Not Sure Where to Start?

If you’re new to Science of Reading, The Art and Science of Reading (10 Hours) is a great overview for any grade level or role. Reading Resilience (10 Hours) is another strong all-levels option.

For teachers who want the full graduate credit sequence, PLB offers comprehensive Science of Reading packages through our university partners — up to 12 graduate credits in a single package.

All courses are 100% online, self-paced, and available for immediate enrollment.

👉 Browse the full Science of Reading catalog

Published July 2026

About the Author
Ellen Paxton is a respected expert in education and best known as the Chief Learning Officer of Professional Learning Board. As a two-time National Board Certified Teacher, Ellen has successfully published and customized online professional development courses and Learning Management Systems for 20 years to help teachers meet their state continuing education renewal credit requirements. Through ProfessionalLearningBoard.com, RenewaTeachingLicense.com, and ConnectedPD.com, Ellen has established solutions and maintained partnerships with several accredited universities, higher education institutions, teachers’ unions and state Departments of Education while setting strategic direction that makes a difference and overseeing implementation of popular online PD for schools.