Literacy | Inquiry | Nature

Words in the Wild makes learning to read and write a joyful pursuit for children and the adults who teach and love them. Our approach develops confidence and critical thinking by sparking innate curiosity — kids become scientists who investigate words in the same ways that they’d investigate the details of a maple leaf or a butterfly.

What We Believe: Deep learning happens by applying literacy skills to meaningful experiences, like exploring and documenting nature. Children and adults learn best in an interdependent, strengths-based environment that values diversity and individual variability. We invite children, families, and educators to build a community of wonder and playful exploration in literacy. 

What We Do: WITW develops evidence-based approaches to early reading and writing through our unique literacy lab model. Our team delivers and refines those approaches through reading support services, summer camp, and family programs. We then share them with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities for educators who want to learn the science of reading. 

How We Do It: Using a Structured Word Inquiry approach, we guide children to see “data” in the natural world and in spelling patterns, and to use their observation skills to understand how words work, build vocabulary, and bolster their reading skills. Our young scientists investigate a word’s meaning and structure using scientific inquiry - connecting structured literacy with children’s innate curiosity. We also move our bodies, a lot!

Impact: Children become confident, independent readers and writers by developing a deep understanding of the linguistic structure of English. Educators develop the experience and tools necessary to teach reading more effectively, filling the gaps in reading instruction courses offered through teacher training programs. Families nurture their children’s literacy development with less stress and more joy.