

Conference Presentation: LETRS - Behind the Pretty Words
The Reading Instruction Show by Dr. Andy Johnson
S26 · E5
Jan 31, 2026
46:23
Episode notes
Just because it says it’s ‘research-based’ or ‘scientifically based’ doesn’t mean that it is. Dr. Louisa Moats’ website states that, “Moats developed the landmark professional development program LETRS for teachers and reading specialists and the scientifically based LANGUAGE!” This presentation will demonstrate (a) how Moats misrepresents the results of her own research, (b) how she falsifies and distorts the research of others in her 2021 paper, and (c) how the publishers of LETRS (Lexia Learning) misrepresent the 18 research studies describes in their LETRS Efficacy Research paper.
Keywords
reading instruction
reading intervention
andy johnson
phonics instruction
scientifically based research
scientifically based reading research
reading research
science of reading
LETRS