For the Love of Reading

As the coordinator for the Core Knowledge Reading (CKR) Pilot Program, I am lucky enough to visit Core Knowledge kindergarten and first-grade classrooms that are field testing the new Core Knowledge language arts materials around the country. Seven of the classrooms I visit are at the Challenge Foundation Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana and the Thomas Jefferson Classical Grammar School CFA in Forest City, North Carolina.

I came away with a full heart after my most recent visit to Indianapolis. The teachers here have enthusiastically embraced CKR, and the children exude excitement and eagerness to learn. During the language arts block, the teachers skillfully presented challenging Skills lessons that systematically teach phonics and decoding skills the children need for reading aloud. During the Listening and Learning lessons, the focus shifted and the teachers shared fiction and nonfiction CKR read-alouds designed to teach specific content knowledge from the Core Knowledge Sequence.

I have seen such growth since my visits here during the first half of this year. The kindergartners are proudly reading their first short decodable readers, while the first-graders are becoming more and more fluent in reading considerably longer texts. I was also impressed by their ability to remember and discuss the specific content knowledge that they have learned from the read-alouds.

Over my thirty years in education, I’ve had the opportunity to observe many teachers. I can say without equivocation that the children’s improvement in reading here at CFA-Indy is unmatched. Many of the children read to me and read very well.  There are some that are still working hard, but in such a positive way—they have the idea and they dig in and keep trying!

I want to tell you about a special little friend who has captured my heart. Richard and I met last year in his kindergarten room at CFA-Indy, and there was an instant bond between us. I saw Richard again during my recent visit to his first-grade classroom. I know where Richard was academically last year at the beginning of kindergarten, so seeing firsthand how he is reading and writing now warms my heart!  He loves learning! With his teacher’s help, Richard emails me between visits. He also shares hand-written notes—here’s a copy of one he gave me during my last visit. Incredible!

I’ll be off to visit Thomas Jefferson CFA in the next two weeks, and I can’t wait. I know the teachers there are also doing an outstanding job with their students. I commend the administrators and teachers at both of these wonderful schools. They have made Core Knowledge Reading come alive and thrive with their students!