Helping Students Read the World | History Matters Podcast

Social studies is an essential component of literacy, because it allows students to build the knowledge and vocabulary they’ll need to comprehend increasingly complex texts. In this episode, host Kyair Butts is joined by guest Melissa Loftus, a former teacher, curriculum developer, and co-host of the Melissa & Lori Love Literacy podcast. She explains why phonics alone is essential but not enough, and that even very young children can “read to learn” through content-rich children’s books and read-alouds of more complex texts. 

“What they know about the world is going to help them comprehend what they read,” Melissa says. “Social studies is learning about the world. It's the exact knowledge, vocabulary that complex texts are going to assume that they know.”

Reading comprehension depends not only on decoding words but also on knowing enough about the world to make sense of what authors assume readers already understand. Effective literacy instruction balances foundational reading skills with opportunities to build knowledge through rich content. Social studies content is especially potent, because it builds vocabulary, knowledge, and familiarity with important information and ideas, and also nurtures students' natural curiosity about the world. Research shows that spending more time on social studies accelerates literacy more than extra time in English language arts. 

Melissa compares the role of content knowledge in reading with being in a familiar environment. Walking through your hometown, you can notice details, ask questions, and pick up on nuances. In a completely unfamiliar place, your brain is working hard just to get from point A to point B. She and Kyair discuss how history, geography, and civics also build confidence, encourage participation, and help create more equitable learning opportunities by giving all students access to shared knowledge. They conclude that history should not be sacrificed due to scheduling pressures, but instead integrated throughout the school day, helping students become stronger readers, informed citizens, and lifelong learners.

This podcast is produced by Knowledge Matters on behalf of the History Matters Campaign. Follow Knowledge Matters on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X. Search #historymatters to join the conversation.

Production by Tressa Versteeg. Original music and sound engineering by Aidan Shea.

Resources:

• Adam Tyner and Sarah Kabourek. Social Studies Instruction and Reading Comprehension: Evidence from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. Washington D.C.: Thomas B. Fordham Institute (September 2020).
• Loftus, Melissa, and Lori Sappington. The Literacy 50–A Q&A Handbook for Teachers: Real-World Answers to Questions About Reading That Keep You Up at Night. Scholastic Teaching Solutions, 2024.
• Melissa & Lori Love Literacy Podcast