Literacy Spiral

Read the World, Write Yourself

Welcome to the Literacy Spiral

Literacy isn't just reading words—it's reading the world. It's the ability to decode patterns, interpret meanings, and construct your own understanding across language, culture, emotion, and thought.

9 Learning Tiers
72 Curated Books
45 Discussion Prompts
100% Free & Open

The Literacy Spiral is a free, open framework that guides learners from their first symbols to sophisticated critical thinking. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or self-directed learner, this tool helps you:

  • Choose the right books at the right developmental stage
  • Ask questions that deepen comprehension
  • Track progress through meaningful milestones
  • Build a lifelong love of learning

Ready to begin your journey?

Reading Tiers

From first symbols to original scholarship—choose your stage and begin your journey through the spiral of literacy.

About the Literacy Spiral

The Literacy Spiral is an open-source framework for developing deep literacy—not just the ability to read, but the capacity to interpret, question, and create meaning across multiple domains of knowledge.

Our Principles

  • Multi-dimensional: True literacy spans cognitive, emotional, and cultural understanding
  • Developmental: Skills build on each other in a natural progression
  • Evidence-based: Book selections are justified by research and pedagogy
  • Open and free: No paywalls, no ads—just great learning resources

License

Literacy Spiral © 2025 — Released under CC BY-SA 4.0. You are free to share and adapt with attribution and ShareAlike.

Want to Contribute?

We welcome book recommendations, discussion prompts, and curriculum ideas. Each suggestion should map to specific competencies and developmental stages.