A Reading Program For 21st Century Classrooms

These three, good readers all. And now, even better.

“It’s changed the way I read. I never knew I’d be so good,” said 8-year-old Seth Fisher, at once proud and humble. He points to the LEAD 21 reading materials on the desk he’s sharing with classmates Katie Shaughnessy, also 8, and 9-year-old Raileyann Westervelt, all three third grader’s in Nicole Volpe’s class at Northeast Academy.

For Westervelt, it’s a “challenge that’s giving me more to discuss.” And Shaughnessy agreed while she considers herself to be a good reader – she “always does” her summer reading – she admits her reading skills are improved: “It’s been more enjoyable and the stories are more interesting.”

But even students who may have reading challenges are “really responding,” Volpe said, to the new reading program begun this year in grades three through five in all Groton elementary schools with a special pilot under way at Mary Morrison for Kindergarten through second grade.

“I’m excited,” said Groton Public Schools Elementary Curriculum Coordinator Donna Duley. “The teachers chose well.”

Helping kids meet or exceed expectations

According to Duley, there was a “need to build rigor and consistency (in reading proficiencies) across the district,” and that led to a committee comprised of educators to review and ultimately choose a new reading program for the district. The Wright Group LEAD 21 reading program produced by McGraw Hill promises to “transform young reading instruction.” Starting with what’s called differentiated readers; textbooks that appear the same on the cover, contain essentially the same context, but with varying skill level text.

“The equity is amazing,” Duley said. “That component, different levels for different students but when they hold their books up, you cannot tell the difference.”

Volpe expanded: “Struggling readers with (for example) first or second grade reading (levels) had books with less mature material, content meant for a first grader. Now, they all have the same book essentially and we can have the same discussions in class, every reader is part of the discussion no matter where they are. So we’re literally and figuratively on the same page.”

So far, so good

At Northeast, not unlike every other Groton elementary school, the school year started with LEAD 21 and, according to Volpe, it’s been “going really well.”

“In the past kids were reading different material at different times and it was very difficult to have a class conversation – they were all over the place,” Volpe said.

But the LEAD 21 materials include other academic subjects including science components so while the students are getting that science lesson, they’re mastering the reading as well.  

Duley said the program “will bring consistency,” but also “will help every child meet or exceed their potential.”

The program developers claim LEAD 21 can “transform K-5 literacy for 21st century classrooms” with “innovative texts and technologies” for all levels of instruction from remedial to advanced.  

And then there’s the kid perspective: “The stories are more interesting in these books,” Shaughnessy said.