Early literacy is critical in laying the foundation for a life of self-determination and economic mobility.
In 3rd grade, students move from learning to read, to reading to learn.
From this point on, reading at grade level matters tremendously to stay on course. Students who do not read at grade level by 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers. The Early Literacy network is working with five Bright Spots that are showing how it’s possible to ensure all children can read.
Early Literacy Bright Spots
Vision To Learn provides free vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to students at their schools. VTL’s mobile vision clinics partner with schools with high levels of low-income students to meet this essential need.
Reach Out and Read Georgia gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. ROR trains pediatricians to support literacy development in children during well child checkups.
The Cox Campus offers free, interactive courses and resources based on proven language and literacy practices. Applicable across all types of curriculum, the courses are provided through video and other resources to promote the science of reading.
ArtsNOW teaches educators how to integrate the arts into core content instruction. By integrating the arts into all subjects, ArtsNOW sets the stage for teachers to be more confident and effective in their teaching, and for students to be more engaged for greater academic and personal achievement.
SEE-KS (Social Emotional Engagement – Knowledge and Skills) is a professional learning approach designed to strengthen teachers’ ability to integrate social-emotional engagement practices into lesson plans. The focus is on increasing student engagement, learning, and literacy by fostering initiation, independence, and investment within—not separate from—classroom instruction.
Literacy & Justice for All
Literacy & Justice for All (LJFA) is an initiative that facilitates early literacy by training child-facing adults of children, ages birth to third grade, in the Science of Reading. Training is offered through the Cox Campus, a free interactive online community developed by the Rollins School for Language & Literacy at the Atlanta Speech School, which provides straightforward learning paths to cultivate environments, relationships, and practices conducive to learning to read. Initially implemented in Marietta City Schools, LJFA has expanded to Atlanta Public Schools, KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools, Wellstar-Kennestone hospital, and more than a dozen nonprofits across metro Atlanta.
