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The Road to Reading

The Road to Reading series, proudly sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Library, explores some of the reading activities you’ll find in our schools as well as difficulties students may face when learning to read.

The series also examines early childhood ties to literacy and new initiatives to help all children read.

Teachers knock over barriers by embedding literacy into science

Comstock Park Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
Through science, Stoney Creek elementary skills are building vocabulary and grammar skills.

Nonprofit puts free books in hands of elementary students 

Kenowa Hills Alexis Stark
A local nonprofit recently brought new books to Alpine Elementary and gave copies to students to encourage literacy and a love of reading. 

If their teacher can be an author, so can they  

Byron Center Alexis Stark
Third-grade teacher and author Erica Abel encourages students to read, write and not let anyone ‘dull their diamonds.’

Business, college and K-12 leaders come together to boost student literacy

Kenowa Hills Alexis Stark
TalentFirst partners with West Michigan K-12 and teaching-college leaders to work together to solve an early literacy crisis.

One Book, One City program culminates with visit from author

Grand Rapids Riley Kelley
To cap off the One Book, One City reading program, Author Varian Johnson spoke to GRPS fifth-graders about his book, ‘Playing the Cards You’re Dealt.’

Who can fix the ship? Ask the octopus!

Wyoming Erin Albanese
The study of sea creatures has Oriole Park Elementary students learning many facts about animals, from anemone to zebrafish.

Fifth-graders pull details from book to build dioramas

Lowell Erin Albanese
Fifth-graders used their imaginations and attention to detail to create dioramas of a cabin in a children’s historical novel.

Research-based reading curriculum aims to amplify skills 

Wyoming Erin Albanese
Phonics, vocabulary, and a lesson in anatomy and Greek mythology all in one morning? Wyoming Public Schools is implementing a comprehensive reading curriculum.

New ELA curriculums bring consistency, equity 

Comstock Park Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
Comstock Park teachers are pleased to have a resource to help build lessons while being able to focus on student needs.

Book battle promotes literacy, teamwork  

Byron Center Alexis Stark
Nickels Intermediate’s annual Battle of the Books competition  serves as a fun opportunity to encourage reading. 

Young readers follow the recipe for perfect pound cake

Grandville Beth Heinen Bell
Each class at Grand View Elementary took on a unique challenge for National Reading Month: bake an award-winning pound cake by reading and following the same recipe. 

Kindergarten language arts unit gets royal treatment

Caledonia Alexis Stark
Dutton Elementary students got a royal reading lesson during their kings and queens unit, followed by a tea party celebration. 

Crowning a ‘Mock Newbery’ champion

Wyoming Erin Albanese
Which book will rise to the top? It’s up to these students to decide.

Scrub up, it’s time for English 

Grandville Beth Heinen Bell
On nonfiction surgery day at Central Elementary, third-graders get to dress up as a medical professional and perform surgery on “patients,” otherwise known as nonfiction magazines. 

Showing them how to search, ask, grow

Godfrey-Lee Alexis Stark
Media paraprofessional Susan McCaffery introduces students to the importance of literacy through books — and dance moves.

Schools see success in statewide push for phonics-based approach to reading

The Road to Reading Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
After one year of using LETRS, Grand Rapids’ Sibley Elementary School saw its reading scores go up.
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School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent ISD, which enroll more than 102,000 students. Founded in 2013 as an initiative of Kent ISD, we are supported by local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and multimedia journalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues facing students and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

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