This paper addresses the theoretical and methodological foundations of the Histelea Project (Historia social de la enseñanza de la lectura y escritura en Argentina - Social History of Reading and Writing Education in Argentine) from its original ideas. The proposal to redefine the study object and the principal categories towards the empirical research work of the group is put into context. Also, the main problems that demand theoretical development in the early 21st century are discussed.This discussion exchanges ideas that have their origins in diverse historiographical currents related to the so-called “crisis of paradigms”.