ROC the Future is getting ahead of this issue by targeting reading by third grade. We want to ensure that Rochester, NY, students are reading at grade level and developing writing, critical thinking, and oral speaking skills.
Strategies Used to Influence Outcomes
The Early Grade Literacy Outcome Team is using the following strategies to strengthen early literacy.
- New, RCSD district-wide ELA curriculum
- Increase family engagement
- Ready Rosie Ready Rosie mobile app to increase parent engagement through Modeled Moment videos to help children learn in everyday environments such as the grocery store, playground, or RTS bus.
- myON online resource to access digital books, track reading, and introduce children to higher level books as their reading skills progress.
- Raising a Reader book bag system to develop a book sharing routine, techniques for reading aloud, and a bookbag rotation where children bring home a Red Book Bag each week filled with books from the library to practice the habit of shared reading.
- Home libraries where each child receives a lamp, rug, and bookcase filled with culturally-relevant and age-appropriate books to read at home with a peer or trusted adult.
- Increase community engagement
- Sponsorship of home library shelves and books
- Use of multi-sensory reading toolkits in libraries and city recreation centers
Current Conditions
We have identified the need to raise English Language Arts (ELA) achievement.
%
of third graders in RCSD are proficient on NYS ELA test
Current Goals
By 2020
%
of third graders in RCSD are proficient on NYS ELA test
EARLY GRADE LITERACY OUTCOMES TEAM
Team Lead: City of Rochester, Rochester City School District and Rochester Public Library
Membership: Rochester City School District, City of Rochester, Common Ground Health, Rochester Public Library, Greater Rochester Quality Council, Children’s Institute, Action for a Better Community, Greater Rochester Health Foundation, The Children’s Agenda, Nazareth College, Common Ground Health, Boys & Girls Club, Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association, Center for Governmental Research, Greater Rochester After School Alliance
