Building Good Readers

Utah State Board of Education News Release logo

USBE Partners with Kids Read Now to Provide Free Books to K-3 Students in Utah

All, Book Deserts, K-5 Literacy, Literacy, News, Parents, Reading, Reading Instruction, Summer Reading, The Science of Reading / By /

March 28, 2023   For Immediate Release   Contact:  Christine Elegante, k-3 literacy specialist, 801-538-7782, christine.elegante@schools.utah.gov  USBE Partners with Kids Read Now to Provide Free Books to K-3 Students in Utah  SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has partnered with Kids Read Now, an innovative nonprofit program that provides free books to young students to …

USBE Partners with Kids Read Now to Provide Free Books to K-3 Students in Utah Read More »

Parent Teacher Conversation with Small smiling child

Do you have your parents’ support and engagement?

Engagement – Family, K-5 Literacy, Parents / By /

Are your parents aware of their children’s true progress? According to an article in EdWeek, 92 percent of parents believe their children are at grade level and doing just fine in the classroom, despite the widespread evidence that most students are struggling. Could it be that they would willingly and collaboratively engage with you in …

Do you have your parents’ support and engagement? Read More »

Creating A R.I.C.H. Literacy Environment

All, Challenges, Choices, Critical Thinking, Curriculum, Diversity, Early Education, Educators, Engagement – Classroom, Equity, Inclusion, K-5 Literacy, Reading, Reading Instruction, Results / By /

Most students either really love to read and find joy in growing and sharpening their literacy skills, or they feel the opposite. Their experience depends on two things- the instructional decisions made and the environment in which they learn.  Educators are often told to create a “literacy rich” or “print rich” classroom setting, but what …

Creating A R.I.C.H. Literacy Environment Read More »

Finding the Hook

All, Challenges, Choices, Critical Thinking, Curriculum, Early Education, Educators, Engagement – Family, Games, K-5 Literacy, Parents, Reading, Reading Instruction, Social Emotional Learning / By /

It’s all about the hook. Find what is inspiring to the youth and you find the hook into reading. Take baby steps even if needed. Not interested in reading a book? Start with a graphic novel. Even the old school Baby Sitters Club books are coming back with a vengeance in graphic novel form! Boys! …

Finding the Hook Read More »

Autonomy in K-3 Literacy Learning

All, Challenges, Choices, Critical Thinking, Curriculum, Early Education, Educators, Engagement – Classroom, Games, Parents, Reading, Reading Instruction, Social Emotional Learning / By /

Something that I’ve learned in my time as an educator is the power of providing students with choices. Choice to explore their learning, choice to figure things out on their own, choice to learn new things in a variety of ways. Literacy skills are the foundation of learning, and something that educators should get excited …

Autonomy in K-3 Literacy Learning Read More »

10 Ways to Explode Your Students’ Excitement for Reading!

All, Book Deserts, Challenges, Choices, Critical Thinking, Curriculum, Early Education, Educators, Engagement – Classroom, Engagement – Community, Engagement – Family, Equity, Events, Funding, Games, K-5 Literacy, Listening, Opportunity Gap, Parents, Reading, Reading Instruction, Results, Summer Reading / By /

How do you get kids excited about books? Over my 25 years of teaching, I’ve discovered many ways to spark excitement. Here are 10 to get you started: 1. Start an After-School Book Club Invite a guest reader from the community to kick off the meetings. After the read-aloud, the kids spread out to read …

10 Ways to Explode Your Students’ Excitement for Reading! Read More »

12 Simple Tips for Helping Your Child Become a Better Reader

All, Choices, Early Education, Educators, Engagement – Family, Games, K-5 Literacy, Listening, Parents, Reading, Reading Instruction, Results, Social Emotional Learning / By /

Check out these 12 simple tips from Dr. Andrew Johnson to help your child become a better reader! Read to your child Expose your child to words Use pretend reading Expose to rhymes, rhyming books, nursery rhymes, poetry, music Reread the same book Read bedtime stories Have books laying around Make regular trips to the …

12 Simple Tips for Helping Your Child Become a Better Reader Read More »

Let’s Leverage The Fun To Connect Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing!

All, Challenges, Choices, Critical Thinking, Curriculum, Diversity, Early Education, Educators, Engagement – Classroom, Events, Games, K-5 Literacy, Listening, Reading, Reading Instruction, Results, Social Emotional Learning, Writing / By /

The young students frantically waved their hands high in the air. They couldn’t wait to run to the front of the gym and participate in a game I call, “5 in Ten!”. I recently spoke with hundreds of students in different settings (urban, rural, and suburban) and they all enjoyed “5 in 10’!”. The gist …

Let’s Leverage The Fun To Connect Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing! Read More »

Reading to Reach the Stars

All, Challenges, Choices, Critical Thinking, Curriculum, Early Education, Educators, Engagement – Classroom, Engagement – Family, Games, K-5 Literacy, Listening, Parents, Reading, Reading Instruction, Results, Social Emotional Learning / By /

We want our kids to reach for the stars, dream big, think for themselves and grow up with a life and career that they happily built. But how when the winding path to achieve such goals involves so many variables and, sometimes, challenges that may be out of our control? Well, there is a way, …

Reading to Reach the Stars Read More »

Scroll to Top