reading

Reading is an essential stepping stone to learning! Our exceptional reading program provides students the instruction, materials, and practice necessary for them to become successful, enthusiastic, life-long readers.

In our balanced literacy approach, we specifically combine the use of systematic phonics instruction (the sounds and rules we use for language), sight word instruction (a whole language or whole word approach), appropriate modeling by teachers, and individual student practice with a teacher.

Since our reading teacher has the unique role of specifically focusing on literacy, she personally assesses each student three times per school year. Parents receive an assessment summary with each progress report explaining their child’s reading growth.

Each student has the unique opportunity to meet 2-5 times weekly with our reading teacher in small groups of 4-7 students with similar instructional needs. While in guided reading groups, first and second level students focus on phonics skills (a continuation of Primary Montessori instruction), reading strategies, fluency and comprehension using a variety of appropriately leveled texts. Third level students participate in small literature groups to read and discuss the various elements of literature using higher levels of thinking.