Make research accessible.
Make reading science clear and meaningful so educators understand how children learn to read and write, and can bring it to life for every child.
Our Founding Belief
A deep respect for teachers.
A commitment to classrooms
where every child can thrive.
What guides our work
Research matters.
So do teachers.
We want all children to thrive as readers and writers, and to find learning to read easier and more joyful. We’re here to support the teachers who make that possible.
Honor the educator.
Recognize the knowledge and experience teachers bring while creating space to reconsider familiar practices with curiosity, not judgment.
Keep it practical.
Offer clear starting points, useful tools, and ongoing support to help educators turn new understanding into purposeful classroom instruction.
Why this work exists
It started with six thoughtful shifts.
When Dr. Jan Burkins and Kari Yates began writing Shifting the Balance K–2, many educators were curious about the science of reading but unsure where to begin. Conversations about reading instruction were often divisive, and reconsidering familiar, trusted practices could feel overwhelming.
Jan and Kari wanted to offer a respectful, accessible path into the research, one that honored teachers’ experiences and offered practical places to begin.
Drawing on reading research and an understanding of adult learning, the first Shifting the Balance book introduced six specific shifts to help teachers reconsider familiar practices and strengthen instruction, one thoughtful step at a time.
The work grew from there. Joined by co-author Dr. Katie Egan Cunningham, Kari and Jan expanded Shifting the Balance into grades 3–5. Online classes were developed to help educators bring the ideas from both books into their classrooms.
What began with a book grew into The Six Shifts: professional learning, classroom tools, articles, and resources that connect research with everyday instruction.
Today, The Six Shifts continues to build on that foundation, supporting teachers as they deepen their understanding, take confident next steps, and help children thrive as readers and writers.
Meet the Founders
Two educators,
one shared commitment.
Kari Yates
Author · Consultant
Kari brings experience as a classroom teacher, special education teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, elementary principal, and district-level leader for curriculum and instruction. She is the co-author of To Know and Nurture a Reader: Conferring with Confidence and Joy (Stenhouse, 2018) and the author of Simple Starts: Making the Move to a Reader-Centered Classroom (Heinemann, 2015) and Eat Your Broccoli (Richard C. Owens Publishing, 2005). Her passion is helping busy educators turn research into practical, effective instruction, one thoughtful next step at a time. She also partners with school and district leaders to align literacy priorities, strengthen the systems that support effective instruction, and build shared ownership of continuous improvement.
Visit Kari’s website
Dr. Jan Burkins
Author · Consultant
Dr. Jan Burkins is an international literacy consultant, speaker, and author dedicated to making reading science accessible, practical, and deeply human. She co-authored the first two Shifting the Balance books and co-founded The Six Shifts, with Kari Yates. Her latest work includes Building Better Mental Models: 8 Conditions of Comprehension; Seeds of EnCOURAGEment: Meditations for Teaching and Living Across the Year; and Shifting the Balance Towards Comprehension, written with Dr. Katie Egan Cunningham. Through her work around the world, Jan helps educators build cohesive, brain-friendly literacy structures. You can learn more about Jan’s work at LiteracyHeart.com or contact her at hello@drjanburkins.com.
Visit Jan’s website
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Stronger instruction starts with a clear path forward.
Whether you’re supporting a classroom, school, or district, The Six Shifts offers professional learning to help educators deepen their understanding of reading research and translate that learning into meaningful instructional change.
Questions about professional learning?Contact our PD Specialist, MaggieMaggie Thoreson · Maggie@TheSixShifts.com