Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™ (FPL)
Elevating Teacher Expertise
Our Mission
Our mission is to transform teaching and learning through a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to literacy education. We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to become proficient and joyful readers, writers, and thinkers. Our resources and professional development services are designed to support educators in creating literacy-rich environments where every student can thrive, and every educator can teach more informed, never straying away from the insights of their own teaching expertise.
Who We Are
Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™ (FPL) is the culmination of decades of research, practice, and collaboration by renowned educators Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Together, they have pioneered innovative literacy systems that are used in schools around the world. Their work is grounded in the belief that effective literacy instruction is essential for success in school and life. Every FPL literacy solution gives teachers the fuel they need to best utilize their own teaching expertise with their students every day in the literacy classroom.
Our Approach
Our approach to literacy is both comprehensive and flexible, meeting the diverse needs of students and educators alike. We offer a wide range of resources, including assessment and intervention resources, classroom resources, professional books and professional learning.
Assessment and Intervention
Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) and Sistema de evaluación de la lectura (SEL)
Accurate and reliable tools to identify the instructional and independent reading levels of all students and document student progress through one-on-one formative and summative assessments.
Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI)
A powerful, research-based intervention system designed to help struggling readers achieve success. LLI is designed to bring students up to grade-level performance in reading and writing.
Fountas & Pinnell Classroom™
A collection of supplemental whole-group, small-group, and independent learning solutions that maximize literacy learning. With systematic lessons, student books and materials, and embedded professional development, teachers are supported and able to deliver high-impact literacy instruction.
These literacy solutions can be purchased individually, in groupings, or as a full suite to suit your literacy learning needs. Fountas & Pinnell Classroom™ is made up of 8 classroom solutions for whole-group, small-group, and independent literacy learning.
Whole-Group Learning
Five supplementary literacy solutions that occur in a whole class setting: Interactive Read-Aloud, Shared Reading, Phonics, Spelling, and Wordy Study, Reading Minilessons, and Writing Minilessons.
These whole-group literacysolutions empower every learner and address every stage of a student’s literacy journey; from enhancing foundational skills to building knowledge, and from deepening comprehension to honing critical thinking. With our whole-group literacy resources, educators can cultivate proficient readers and writers, promote joyful classroom interactions, and support lasting literacy success.
Interactive
Read-Aloud (IRA), PreK-6
Build background
knowledge with topic-based text sets in Interactive Read-Aloud. With our
diverse and thematic text sets, students don’t just hear
stories—they engage with them. They learn to think critically about
text, to connect with diverse characters and settings, and to express their
understandings in purposeful classroom discussions.
Shared Reading (SR),
PreK-4
Engage students and build critical reading
skills with Shared Reading. Advance readers’ comprehension, fluency,
and foundational skills in an engaging, interactive whole-group literacy
experience, available in English (PreK-4) and Spanish (PreK-2).
With Shared Reading, readers are immersed in enlarged, high-interest
texts that bring excitement and joy to the literacy classroom.
Phonics,
Spelling, and Wordy Study (PWS), PreK-6
Providing
the building blocks for a lifetime of literacy, PWS offers students the
skills to help them decode the world of text around them. Through explicit,
inquiry-based lessons, students explore the fundamental elements of
language, discovering how sounds, letters, and words function together in
print. This comprehensive system is structured around key language
principles, offering a progression of foundational skills that build from
the ground up.
Reading Minilessons
(RML), K-6
Enhance comprehension and reinforce
literacy learning with short, focused lessons that fill the gaps. These
adaptable, inquiry-based lessons are designed to pinpoint key literacy
concepts, turning the abstract into the accessible through practical,
whole-group instruction. Reading Minilessons are flexible enough to suit the
needs of any classroom.
Writing Minilessons (WML),
PreK-6
Your ultimate guide to developing
creativity and confidence in young writers. Writing Minilessons equip
educators with tools to guide young writers through the foundational aspects
of writing, ensuring clarity, purpose, and engagement in their work.
Tailored for the needs of writers in Grades PreK–6, these brief and
explicit lessons streamline the path to writing proficiency.
Small-Group and Independent Learning
Three supplementary literacy solutions that occur in a small-group or independent learning setting: Guided Reading, Book Clubs, and Independent Reading.
These solutions offer personalized literacy development that meets every student's needs with precision and care. These inquiry-based solutions help educators strengthen each learner's literacy skills, build their comprehension and ability to make meaning from texts, and empower them to become confident readers, writers, and thinkers.
Guided Reading (GR),
K-6
The powerful small-group resource that
promotes reading growth with attention and detail at all reading levels.
During the personalized, responsive Guided Reading lesson, students read
increasingly challenging, engaging original texts with the goal of
helping every student become a confident and independent reader.
Book Clubs (BC),
K-6
Ignite student engagement and ownership of
learning. By offering a platform for students to discuss and dive deep
into texts, Book Clubs facilitate a collaborative learning experience
that empowers students to articulate their thoughts and listen to the
perspectives of others. During Book Clubs, students apply critical
thinking, share insights, and explore texts collectively, fostering a
deeper comprehension and a sense of investment in their reading
journey.
Independent Reading
(IR), K-6
Equip teachers and students with a
diverse library of literature that encourages self-directed literary
exploration. This resource helps foster a personal connection with
books, inviting students to discover and immerse themselves in texts
that align with their individual interests and skills.
More Classroom Resources
Fountas and Pinnell Classroom Resources maximize student learning with systematic lessons, student books and materials, and powerful tools that guide teachers' language and actions and support them in expert decision making for high-impact literacy instruction.
Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™ Digital (FPLD)
An innovative, comprehensive platform designed to elevate assessment, intervention, and classroom instruction with engaging digital tools. With FPLD, educators can access their teaching resources and teacher- and student-facing platforms anytime, anywhere.
Teacher and Student Access:
- Leveled Literacy Intervention
- FPC Guided Reading
- FPC Shared Reading
Teacher Access:
- Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) 2.0
- Sistema de evaluación de la lectura (SEL) 2.0
Professional Books and Professional Learning
We believe that continuous learning is essential for educators. Our professional development books and programs are designed to deepen teachers' understanding of literacy instruction and to support the implementation of our resources in the classroom.
Why Fountas & Pinnell?
Educators choose Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™ because our systems are grounded in research, tested in the field, and proven to be effective. We are committed to supporting educators with the highest-quality resources and the knowledge they need to foster a love of reading and writing in their students.
Our Impact
For over 30 years, Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™ has made a lasting impact on classrooms worldwide. Our resources are used in tens of thousands of schools, helping millions of students become successful readers and writers. We are proud to be a trusted partner in literacy education, and we continue to innovate and evolve to meet the needs of today’s educators and students.
Real LLI Stories: Confidence
Real LLI Stories: Success
Fountas & Pinnell Classroom™
Connect with Us
For more information about Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™, please contact a rep, join our FPL community for updates and free resources, and join the Facebook Educator Group to connect with FPL educators.