About Chase Young
Reading Research. Real Classrooms. Joyful Teaching.
I’m Dr. Chase Young — a former elementary teacher, literacy scholar, author, professor, and professional learning partner who helps educators turn research into instruction students actually want to experience.
The short version
I study literacy. I write about literacy. I speak about literacy. But most importantly, I work to help teachers help children become stronger, more confident readers.
As a Professor of Literacy at Sam Houston State University, Editor-in-Chief of Reading Research Quarterly, author, and Chief Literacy Officer at Literrific, my work sits at the intersection of rigorous research and practical classroom instruction.
If it doesn’t work with kids, you won’t find it here.
That idea guides everything I create — books, professional learning, classroom resources, podcasts, scripts, interventions, and tools for educators.
Why The Best Class?
The name The Best Class came from my second graders in 2006. One afternoon, a student looked around the room and said, “This is the best class.”
The others didn’t say anything, but they didn’t have to. Their smiles, laughter, and complete engagement said enough.
That moment became a challenge: How do we create classrooms students genuinely want to be part of? I’ve been chasing that question ever since.
What I do
Translate research
I take complex literacy research and turn it into clear, usable ideas for classrooms, schools, and districts.
Design professional learning
I lead keynotes, workshops, institutes, and learning experiences that are practical, engaging, and memorable.
Create resources
I develop books, scripts, tools, and instructional routines that help teachers support readers with confidence.
Keep it classroom-real
My work is shaped by research, but it always has to survive the beautiful chaos of real classrooms.
A few things I’m known for
Explore my work
Use this page as a starting point. Whether you’re looking for a speaker, classroom scripts, books, podcasts, intervention ideas, or tools, you’ll find resources designed to be useful in real schools.
Great teaching is both an art and a science.
Research tells us what works. Teachers decide how to make it work for the students in front of them.
Keep the Goal. Change the Experience.
