Solutions

There is no single program that can address the full range of skills needed to achieve reading proficiency. The solution depends upon the age group. There are four ages groups: 1) womb-to-classroom (0-5), 2) kindergarten to 3rd grade, 3) 4th grade to 12th grade, and adult (18+). 

 

There are three types of skills: 1) social emotional skills, 2) background knowledge or learned skills, and 3) cognitive processing skills. Skill development can also be impacted by homelife. This includes how much stress or trauma a child has experienced or continues to experience, stability of housing and relationships, quality and consistency of nutrition, and sleep. 

 

 

Womb-to-classroom (ages 0-5)

  • Create a community model that supports families to encourage them to read aloud and talk with their children appropriately on a daily basis. 

  • Provide training in high school to educate young adults so they gain a better understanding of the responsibilities of having children and how to support the proper brain development for their children.

  • Provide similar training to expecting families.

  • Celebrate each birth and connect families to community resources and to key people in their Village.

  • Provide ongoing support and guidance to families during the critical brain development period of ages 0-5.

  • Connect families to resources that guide them through the proper development stages and provide help if a child is not developing properly.

  • Make families aware of the key developmental milestones so most children enter kindergarten with the skills to succeed. 

 

Kindergarten through 3rd grade

  • Every elementary school implements a small-group immersion model of training during the reading period.

  • All kindergarten and 1st grade students complete the online program called Reading Kingdom. 

  • Families are encouraged to continue to read aloud with their children at home at least 15-20 minutes daily.

  • Visual processing skills are assessed and trained as needed.

  • Students in 2nd grade take the cognitive skill assessment and complete a cognitive skill training series by the end of 3rd grade. 

 

4th grade and above, including adults

  • It is important to understand that if a student is still struggling to learn how to read proficiently by 4th grade, they will be forced to learn coping strategies that are not efficient. They will likely have a fixed mindset and low self-esteem. The longer the struggle, the more entrenched the student's feelings will become.

  • The good news is that the strategies used to achieve proficiency in K-3 can also work for older students who continue to struggle. Addressing mindset and any traumas must come first. 

  • Complete a Skill Scan to identify skill gaps. Teach the student about the Skill Gap model so they understand their struggle has not been their fault. If presented correctly, this can give the student hope and a pathway to success.  

 

 

Key tools we use

We are currently working with the Black Youth Success Movement to help address the reading crisis for Black youth. (https://rise1000x.com/)

 

An outline of all of the tools we use can be found on their website.

https://rise1000x.com/family-orientation

 

This approach can be used for any student or school.