Parents and educators know the value of reading and the adage “reading is fundamental.” Emphasis is typically focused on the early years such as with the Emergent Literacy Series. However, the Center Grove Community School Corporation in Indiana is taking that adage to heart by weaving literacy and vocabulary into nearly every lesson across all grades and developmental levels. The Indystar explains the new program.

Lisa Plank, West Grove Elementary principal, explains: "We really believe literacy is the touchstone for everything that follows in [students’] lives." Plank hopes that students will learn more than just reading comprehension and fluency, but will also learn that "reading is an enjoyable pastime."

Based on research that shows that personalizing literacy education can boost understanding of literature, the program will expose elementary students to a variety of books at their reading level, and will recruit parent volunteers to work with students. Plank says that the school will “dedicate at least 90 minutes of the instruction day to literacy.”

In middle school, the focus will be on vocabulary, writing, and reading strategies, and staff members will emphasize subject-specific vocabulary words. Matt Kaiser, Center Grove Middle School North principal, says students will learn these skill-based words, such as “analyze,” so that when asked to make an analysis of a situation, they will know what is being asked of them.

SAT vocabulary words will also be worked into weekly student announcements. Greek and Latin roots and prefixes and suffixes will also be emphasized so that students can figure out what words mean.

Kaiser says success comes when students incorporate these strategies into everyday practice. "You teach these reading strategies, you know these reading strategies, but to see the kids use them [is rewarding]" he said.

Students at the high school level will also participate in the initiative. Center Grove Superintendent Steven Stephanoff said that an adult literacy audit done last year “gave us some very pointed suggestions" and that the high schools were doing a good job, but could improve.