Education Expert Karen Vaites Highlights Enduring Criticisms of Teachers College Reading Workshop

Education commentator Karen Vaites recently took to social media to underscore the persistent questions surrounding the Teachers College Reading Workshop (TCRWP) curriculum, expressing surprise that in 2025, issues with the program still warrant discussion. Vaites stated, "It boggles my mind when people ask 'What are the problems with Teachers College Reading Workshop?' In 2025. But it shouldn’t. Education nuances seldom achieve national awareness, especially when they are about instruction. I have been writing about this curriculum’s shortcomings since 2020." Her tweet, posted on June 20, 2025, signals continued debate within the education community regarding widely adopted literacy approaches.

The TCRWP, particularly its "Units of Study," has faced increasing scrutiny, largely due to its perceived misalignment with the "science of reading," a body of research emphasizing systematic phonics instruction and knowledge building. Critics argue that the program, developed by Lucy Calkins, historically placed insufficient emphasis on foundational reading skills like phonics and relied too heavily on strategies such as the "three-cueing system," which encourages children to guess words from context rather than decoding them. This approach has been linked to poor reading outcomes, especially for struggling learners.

Karen Vaites has been a vocal critic of TCRWP, publishing articles and commentary since 2020 detailing its shortcomings. Her work, including a piece titled "Understanding the Concerns About Teachers College Reading Workshop," has consistently highlighted the program's deficiencies in areas such as phonics instruction, vocabulary development, and systematic knowledge building. These critiques gained significant traction following a negative review by EdReports in late 2021 and the popular "Sold a Story" podcast in 2022, which further amplified concerns about balanced literacy models.

In response to mounting pressure and evolving research, Teachers College announced in September 2023 that it would "dissolve" its formal relationship with Lucy Calkins and her Reading and Writing Project, replacing it with a new initiative focused on updated research. Lucy Calkins herself has acknowledged the need for greater emphasis on phonics, introducing dedicated phonics units and decodable texts to her curriculum in recent years. However, critics, including Vaites, often contend that these changes are insufficient or too late, given the program's widespread adoption and its impact on student literacy.

The ongoing discussion, as highlighted by Vaites's recent tweet, reflects a broader shift in educational philosophy towards evidence-based reading instruction. While the TCRWP aimed to foster a love of reading and writing, its critics argue that without a strong foundation in decoding and comprehension, many students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are left behind. The debate underscores the challenges of translating educational research into effective, equitable classroom practices across the nation.