Memphis District Deploys Web-based Early Reading Program

  • By Chris Riedel
  • 01/05/09
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Memphis City Schools has announced the adoption of the Headsprout Early Reading program aimed at enhancing district literacy programs for more than 8,700 first-grade students.

The early reading program comprises 80 Web-based lessons intended to improve phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Each lesson is approximately 20 minutes in length and adapts to match individual abilities. In addition to the online lessons, students participating in the program will receive printed versions of the accompanying stories.

"Our goal is to partner with Headsprout to implement Headsprout Early Reading with fidelity. The goal is for 75% to 80% of our First Grade students to be reading at or above grade level by the end of the school year," said Linda Kennard, Director of PreK-12 Literacy, Memphis City Schools, in a prepared statement. "After extensive evaluation through our district pilot, we recognize Headsprout's research-developed program performs as an equivalent to a personal reading tutor, giving students specialized individual attention in addition to what the structured classroom environment is able to provide."

The Headsprout program will be deployed in approximately 500 classrooms throughout the district's 112 elementary schools.

About the Author

Chris Riedel is a freelance writer based in Illinois. He can be reached here.

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