Kent ISD — In Jamié Johnson’s classroom at Pine Grove Learning Center, students flip through colorful pages, read aloud and even color along with the story.
Every month brings new books, chosen around themes like family, friendship or self-confidence. For example, in February the focus was on family, and students explored the story of “Bitsy Bat, School Star” by Kaz Windness, a tale about inclusion, self-acceptance and embracing what makes you unique.
“It’s been really nice to have this selection,” Johnson said.
The books are part of “Pages With Purpose,” a program designed to bring focus to literacy in Kent ISD’s special education classrooms. Kent ISD special education teachers in Pine Grove, Kent Education Center Oakleigh, Lincoln Developmental Center and Lincoln School have been receiving the books every few months, along with suggested activities and lesson plans tailored to the stories.
The goal is to improve literacy instruction in elementary levels with high quality books, engaging materials and best practices that align with the science of reading philosophy, a scientifically researched approach to reading and writing, said Jessica Quisenberry, a special education instructional coach for the Kent ISD Center Programs.
A New Chapter for Literacy Learning
The program launched with funding from a $907,000 Michigan Department of Education 35J literacy grant. About $200,000 went to Kent ISD’s center programs for early literacy, while the rest funded classroom libraries across the county through the Great Start Readiness Program.
Quisenberry, SDI coach Sarah Misiak and academic coach Kaitlin Vanwyk learned they had been awarded the grant in late summer 2025, and spent several months developing a plan and working with Barnes & Noble to select and purchase the books.
Every three months, teachers in the four Kent ISD special education buildings received 10 to 12 new titles, along with suggested activities and lesson plan templates.
The team identified monthly themes to guide book selections, aiming to keep students engaged and connected to the stories. One November theme focused on family traditions, featuring titles such as “I Like Me!” by Nancy Carlson, “Home” by Matt de la Peña, “Our Class Is a Family” by Shannon Olsen, and “Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story” by Kevin Noble Maillard.
Pages With Purpose includes early literacy training on how the books can be used, along with a digital resource library where teachers can submit and access lesson plans for most of the titles, Quisenberry said.
At the start of the year, teachers received a QR code to help build the digital resource library. KEC East Beltline, which serves students in high school through age 26, also has access to the resource.
“This way, teachers can submit their own lesson plans around the books and themes, and also have a place to pick up ideas for other lessons they could do with their students,” Vanwyk said.
Vanwyk also said the program gives teachers flexibility to use the books in ways that fit their classrooms while ensuring students have consistent opportunities to build literacy skills.
Books Full of Possibilities
At Pine Grove, Johnson flipped through books in one of several green bins, labeled by theme, provided by the program.
“In the past, we might get one new book,” said Johnson, who had often searched book sales to find items that would engage her students. “Now, I have a selection of books, which helps with lesson planning and makes it easier to find something that fits within what we are studying.”
The school’s severe cognitive impairment pod, which includes Johnson’s classroom, meets monthly to discuss themes and select the books they will use, she said. The team chooses about four books a month.
In Johnson’s classroom, they read one book a week, following this schedule:
- Mondays: Students read the book together and complete a related coloring activity.
- Tuesdays: Lessons focus on comprehension, with questions such as, “Who was the main character?” and “Where did she go?”
- Wednesdays: Students are introduced to four vocabulary words from the story, which are chosen for their familiarity and importance in the book.
- Thursdays: Lessons focus on sequencing and story structure.
- Fridays: Students make personal connections, such as writing what makes them unique, which is part of the “Bitsy Bat, School Star” story.
Through Pages With Purpose, Johnson said, students not only build literacy skills but also engage with stories in ways that celebrate who they are.
“The students are excited when the books come,” she said. “At the end of the day, for about 15 minutes, the students read one-on-one and they have the opportunity to choose the book.”
Johnson said she is excited about next year because the books provide opportunities to introduce new titles, bring back favorites and build a robust curriculum.
Vanwyk said the next phase of Pages With Purpose will take place next year with a resource library at KEC Oakleigh that will open in the fall. Any Kent ISD special education teacher will be able to check out materials from the library to use in their classroom.
The plan also includes adding science and social studies books that educators can use to supplement their core curriculum.
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