How did we create a reading program for students with unique needs? Good question.

We saw a need for a reading program for students in poverty, so through combination of teacher empowerment and a focus on reading strategies and high-interest texts, we did something about it.

Reading proficiency in early elementary remains unacceptably low for students living in poverty. Across the United States, children in poverty hear 32 million fewer words by age four than children in high-income households. In urban communities, many students begin each school year without the skills and knowledge needed to complete grade-level work.

Although the country is facing a crippling epidemic of low literacy rates in early elementary, educators and policy-makers can significantly reduce the opportunity and achievement gap by ensuring every child has access to high-quality early literacy instruction.

Read the full article by TeachThought Staff at TeachThought