By Erin Walker, Vice President of Academics and Research, Learning Ally

At Learning Ally, we have spent more than 75 years listening to students, partnering with educators, supporting families, and learning from researchers. Throughout that journey, one truth has remained constant: literacy success is rarely the result of a single program, intervention, or strategy.

Students who thrive as readers are supported by a network of experiences, relationships, and opportunities that work together over time. They need effective instruction. They need access to books and content. They need encouragement when reading feels difficult. They need educators who understand how they learn. They need families and caregivers who are equipped to support them. And they need systems that recognize their strengths while addressing their challenges.

That understanding led us to develop the Learning Ally Literacy Mosaic.

Why a Mosaic?

We chose the word mosaic intentionally.

A mosaic is made up of many individual pieces, each important on its own. But the true picture only emerges when those pieces are connected and working together.

The same is true for literacy.

Too often, literacy support is viewed through a single lens. Some focus primarily on phonics instruction. Others emphasize access to books. Some prioritize family engagement, while others concentrate on intervention or accommodations.

All of these efforts matter. Yet none of them, by themselves, are enough.

The Learning Ally Literacy Mosaic recognizes that literacy development is built through the interaction of multiple, interconnected components. When those components are aligned, students with dyslexia and other reading differences are far more likely to experience success—not only in reading, but in school and in life.

The Six Competencies of the Literacy Mosaic

The Literacy Mosaic is organized around six core competencies that together create a complete system of support.

Language Comprehension

Reading begins with language.

Students build literacy through conversations, listening, storytelling, vocabulary development, and background knowledge. Strong language comprehension creates the foundation upon which reading comprehension can grow.

Word Recognition

Students must also develop the skills needed to recognize words accurately and efficiently.

This includes phonemic awareness, decoding, and reading fluency. Evidence-based structured literacy instruction plays a critical role in helping students develop these skills, particularly those with dyslexia and other reading differences.

Resilience

Reading is more than an academic skill—it is also an emotional experience.

Many students who struggle with reading face frustration, anxiety, and self-doubt. The Literacy Mosaic emphasizes the importance of resilience, self-efficacy, growth mindset, and positive reading identity as essential components of literacy success.

Instructional Practice

Research matters most when it reaches the classroom.

Effective literacy systems rely on knowledgeable educators, evidence-based instruction, strong leadership, high-quality curriculum, and ongoing use of data to support student learning.

Family and Caregiver Collaboration

Learning does not stop when students leave school.

Families and caregivers play a vital role in supporting literacy development through conversation, encouragement, advocacy, and shared reading experiences. When schools and families work together, students benefit.

Universal Literacy Access

Every student deserves access to learning.

Students with dyslexia and other reading differences often need accommodations and assistive technologies that allow them to engage with grade-level content while building reading skills. Access is not separate from instruction—it is an essential part of it.

A Framework for Everyone

One of the things I love most about the Literacy Mosaic is that it is designed for everyone who supports students.

Educators can use it to reflect on instructional practices and identify opportunities for growth.

School and district leaders can use it to align literacy initiatives and build stronger systems.

Families can use it to better understand the many factors that contribute to literacy success and advocate for comprehensive support.

Community organizations and literacy partners can use it as a shared framework for collaboration.

Most importantly, students can see themselves reflected in a system that recognizes both their strengths and their needs.

Building the Mosaic Together

At Learning Ally, we often say that literacy changes lives. We have seen it firsthand in the stories of students who discover confidence through reading, educators who transform classroom outcomes, and families who finally find the support they need.

The Learning Ally Literacy Mosaic represents our commitment to ensuring that every student has access to the full picture of literacy support—not just one piece of it.

Whether you are a student, educator, family member, administrator, advocate, or partner, you are an important part of this work.

Together, we can build literacy systems that are more connected, more inclusive, and more effective for all learners.

Because when every piece of the mosaic is in place, every student has a greater opportunity to thrive.

To learn more about the Learning Ally Literacy Mosaic and how it can support your school, organization, or family, explore the Learning Ally Literacy Mosaic and the research base supporting it. Then join us in building a future where every learner can succeed in literacy and life.