Christie Biggerstaff joins KDE as director of early literacy
Christie Biggerstaff joined the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) in the Office of Teaching and Learning on July 1 as the director of early literacy.
Early Literacy: Beyond bells and whistles
Melanie Callahan Early literacy is a crucial step in overcoming learning gaps and propelling students toward proficiency. From pre-K to kindergarten, families and schools are on this mission together. The young children who grow into good readers require guidance, training and encouragement from their teachers and leaders. Research abounds on the topic of early literacy and reading readiness. [...]
Improving reading through attention to detail
A research project has increased student proficiency in some west Kentucky elementary schools by focusing on what they need within each school and within small groups of students.
Interim commissioner lays out his priorities to Kentucky Board of Education
Interim Commissioner of Education Wayne Lewis laid out his priorities to the Kentucky Board of Education at its Jan. 6 meeting, telling board members that “everything that we do ought to be aligned to improving student outcomes.”
Creating a new focus on literacy
As parents and educators, we need to recognize that teaching children to be literate citizens has its place in all of the classes we teach in Kentucky’s schools.
R.E.A.L. Men Read
Bobby Ellis bobby.ellis@education.ky.gov When Fayette County announced that it was looking for 300 volunteers to fill a read-aloud mentoring program, Christian Adair wondered how many people would answer the call. “As it turns out, we’ve had to turn away people in a few different schools because of how many volunteers we’ve had,” said Adair, the educating boys of color specialist [...]
Growing readers one child at a time
Grant County's Belinda Furman shares how she tried to foster a love of reading among her young students.
Essential instructional practices in early literacy
Amid all the rhetoric, how do you choose solid instructional practices to improve the literacy skills of students in your classroom?
Next Generation Academies for Arts Integration offered
The Kentucky Department of Education has partnered with the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts since 2000 to provide Arts Academies. This year, the partnership continues with two Next Generation Academies (NGA): NGA for Integration of the Arts and World Languages (Spanish, Chinese and NEW this year – French) NGA for Integration of the Arts and Emergent & Early Literacy (NEW [...]
Emphasis on informational texts enhances literacy at early primary level
Young children are drawn to informational text, especially when the subject interests them.