Reading Allies helps build reading fluency by rereading old books and introducing new ones
The challenge
Access to new books is a critical component of literacy education. Children need new materials regularly to help them build new skills and create reading progress. But rereading books plays a similarly important role in the development of reading fluency. Without guided support, students may not know what to do when they read new materials or revisit their favorite titles. Reading Allies recognized this and created a reading program that emphasizes both practices.
Image provided by Reading Allies
The solution
Grant funding from the University of Alabama’s #Fight4Literacy Game presented by International Paper helped Reading Allies provide high-quality, leveled books to readers at partner sites across Tuscaloosa County. New, leveled books help readers build literacy skills, exposing them to new ideas, words, sounds and grammatical structures. Students in Reading Allies programs have increased access to leveled materials, helping teachers track progress and ensuring students are continually growing as young readers.
Simultaneously, students are also guided through purposeful rereading practices. Rereading books helps children build fluency – if they’re familiar with a story, they can focus on practicing inflection, moving through the story at a paced cadence, and generally become stronger, more fluent readers. At Reading Allies, students cycle through new books to gain new skills, and old books to strengthen skills they’ve already developed. This winning combination builds reading confidence, fluency and comprehension simultaneously!
The testimony
Without organizations like Coaching for Literacy, Reading Allies would not be able to provide as many books to Tuscaloosa students to ensure everyone has access to new and previously read books.
Reading Allies Assistant Director Claire Stebbins said, “Coaching For Literacy has allowed Reading Allies the opportunity to expand programs in Tuscaloosa County quicker than we may have been able to otherwise. This means we are serving more students with high-quality materials and Reading Allies Specialists as we work to achieve the goal of getting Alabama's students on grade level by the end of third grade. We are so grateful for your continued support and dedication to students across the country!”
You can #Fight4Literacy.
Illiteracy impacts every community – it is critical that we all join together to help children locally and around the country. Consider donating to Coaching for Literacy or participating in an upcoming #Fight4Literacy Game. Share this message with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, and follow Coaching for Literacy for information about upcoming events and the fight against illiteracy. We look forward to having you on our team.
