The Purpose
The purpose of our website is to offer free reading worksheets aimed at improving literacy and reading comprehension for students. These worksheets cover a variety of subjects, genres, and skills, and are organized by grade level, word count, and other relevant factors. The website is designed to support reading comprehension, vocabulary building, and other essential language arts skills through fun, engaging stories and exercises. It is a useful resource for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents looking for educational materials to help students develop their reading abilities.
Literacy rates in the United States have seen concerning trends due to several key factors. One major issue is the growing disparity in education quality, particularly in underfunded schools in low-income areas where students have less access to quality teachers, resources, and early reading interventions. This gap often leads to children starting school behind their peers and struggling to catch up.
A main contributing factor to the decline in literacy rates is the lack of emphasis on early childhood education and reading programs. Research shows that children who are not exposed to books and reading at an early age are less likely to develop strong literacy skills. Many families, especially in disadvantaged areas, may not have the time or resources to provide children with reading experiences, leaving schools to fill the gap. However, budget cuts and a shortage of qualified teachers have made it harder for schools to provide the necessary support.
Another factor is the increasing reliance on digital media and technology, which has shifted attention away from traditional reading habits. Children spend more time on screens with non-educational content, reducing opportunities for immersive reading experiences that build literacy skills. Additionally, socioeconomic factors like parental education levels and access to books also play significant roles in shaping literacy outcomes across the country.
Who Are We
This project is a labor of love, born from the heart of a retired reading teacher who refused to let her passion for education fade with retirement. She began with a modest website, crafting and sharing worksheets with a handful of friends in her community. But what started as a simple act of giving soon blossomed into something far greater. Inspired by her dedication, her friends, also retired, eagerly stepped in to help, pouring their own energy into expanding the site’s resources. Little did they know, this would be the spark that ignited a movement—proof that retirement doesn’t mark the end of contribution, but rather a new chapter full of untapped potential.
Soon, word of this little website reached retired web developers and designers, who saw the beauty in its purpose. They couldn’t resist the call to contribute their skills and knowledge, and before long, the site evolved into something much more sophisticated. With every new volunteer, the mission grew-creating not just a resource for their immediate community but a beacon of hope for anyone struggling with English literacy across the globe. What started with one teacher’s worksheets became a powerful collaboration, fueled by the wisdom and generosity of people who had spent their lives learning, working, and now, giving back in the most profound way.
Today, we are a dedicated group of retired individuals from all walks of life, bound by a common goal: to combat the global issue of English literacy. We come from different backgrounds-teachers, developers, artists, professionals-but we are united in our desire to share the fruits of our labor with the world, free for anyone to use. This website is a gift of love, knowledge, and a testament to the fact that no matter our age, we all have something valuable to offer. We hope that you find these resources helpful, and that through them, we can make a small but meaningful impact on the world.
The Science of Reading
The Science of Reading is a way of understanding how people learn to read by studying the brain and how it works. It uses research from areas like science, psychology, and education to figure out the best ways to teach reading. This research shows that reading isn’t something the brain does naturally, like talking-it has to be taught step by step. One of the most important parts of learning to read is phonics, which teaches how letters and sounds work together. By learning skills like hearing sounds in words, sounding out letters, and reading smoothly, kids can become strong readers who understand what they read.
The Science of Reading focuses on teaching reading in a clear and organized way based on what we know from research. This is different from older methods, like “whole language,” where kids were encouraged to guess words using pictures or context. Instead, the Science of Reading uses lessons that build skills little by little, making sure kids get lots of practice. It also stresses the importance of helping kids who struggle early on so they don’t fall behind. This way of teaching helps all students learn to read well and understand books, no matter their starting point.
By providing structured and systematic reading exercises, Reading Duck’s materials support the development of key literacy components such as phonics, comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking. This approach is consistent with the Science of Reading, which emphasizes explicit instruction in these foundational areas to facilitate effective reading acquisition. The diverse range of worksheets enables targeted practice, reinforcing specific skills and promoting a well-rounded literacy education. Additionally, the inclusion of engaging themes and topics helps maintain student interest and motivation, further supporting the principles of evidence-based reading instruction.
Terms of Use
Our content is created for the sole purpose of helping parents, homeschoolers, tutors, and educators provide quality learning experiences. Our worksheets must not be copied, sold, or used commercially under any circumstances. We are committed to freely sharing our materials in printed form with teachers, parents, and caregivers for educational purposes only, ensuring that students and learners of all ages can benefit.
While you are welcome to link directly to our resources, any redistribution of our content-without proper citation or linking-is a clear violation of our copyright and terms of use. Unauthorized sharing, reproduction, or distribution of our work in any format compromises our mission and undermines the educational integrity we strive to maintain.
Contacting Us
We no longer respond to outreach from marketers or advertising sales teams, so please refrain from contacting us for those purposes. This is 99.999% of things we receive. We will literally click “Delete”, without reading marketing messages.
If you are a genuine person looking to communicate with us, we invite you to reach out to Becky, who serves as our liaison to our writing team and web managers. We are always eager to hear from educators, parents, or anyone with helpful feedback or ideas for new content. If you feel there are topics we haven’t covered, don’t hesitate to share your suggestions with Becky.
