In Their Own Words

Birchview Elementary School teachers are dedicated to creating a community of readers. To meet the needs of each and every reader, we have identified a critical need for resources that support readers on their literacy journey. Engaging decodable texts help teachers put Science of Reading best practices into action by reinforcing students' phonetic knowledge, building strong content knowledge and helping them acquire robust vocabulary skills. Additionally, accessible texts help students who receive Tier 3 instruction (reading intervention) practice, apply and transfer their phonetic learning into authentic texts to develop a mastery of reading.

The primary goal of our project is to provide engaging accessible books to all students. Our project objectives are:

• To improve phonics and decoding skills among K-5 striving readers.

• To enhance overall reading comprehension and fluency.

• To foster a love for reading and encourage a positive attitude towards literacy.

At Birchview, we believe all students deserve access to high-interest reading material that is accessible at their current skill level. Some students have read the same trade books within the curriculum, and bookroom, over the course of multiple school years. New books will increase engagement, build stamina, and allow students to continue practicing skills and strategies taught in their own independent reading book. More specifically, to support Wayzata's Equity Commitment, these specific decodable texts were chosen to reflect a range of identities and diverse experiences, which allows all students at Birchview to see themselves in the books they are reading.

Status: funded in May 2024, fully in use in SY 2024-2025.