(Courtesy photo)
Peabody Charter School in Santa Barbara has implemented a system of reading intervention that supports children learning to read in alignment with the Science of Reading. The changes are being made under the leadership of Demian Barnett, Claire Krock and the Board of Directors
Based on evidence that students need explicit, systematic instruction when forming foundational reading skills, the Literacy Program at Peabody Charter has reimagined its instructional intervention to provide rich, research-based reading instruction to support all students in becoming proficient readers.
Under the initiative, Peabody Charter plans to have all its third-graders reading by 2026.
The school’s objective mirrors that of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond who, last fall, set the goal that all of California’s third-graders will be proficient readers by 2026. Peabody Charter is working toward creating a local, robust literacy program for all students in accordance with the statewide goal.
“It is time for all schools to align their English language arts instruction with the body of research defined as the Science of Reading,” said Krock, director of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. “The reading wars are officially over.”
With the enhanced level of instruction and coordinated system, student literacy rates are improving. As part of Peabody’s commitment to the cause, 35 teachers and staff members will be participating in a two-year professional development course that will prepare all Peabody Charter teachers to be 21st century experts in teaching reading, spelling and writing.
“Informed teachers are our best insurance against reading failure,” reading expert Louisa Moats has said. “While programs are very helpful tools, programs don’t teach, teachers do.”
As Peabody Charter’s expertise and knowledge grows, the school hopes to work collaboratively with other area schools and organizations to adopt a similar approach to teaching reading.