Resource Departments → Reading Programs
MCPS launched the Reading Initiative Program in the fall of 1998. Additional reading teachers were hired to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio during our balanced literacy block for students in grades one and two. This instructional period is solely devoted to instruction in reading. The children are engaged in reading activities that include shared reading, guided reading, independent reading, and listening to and discussing quality literature. In addition, children engage in creative activities, such as readers theater, artwork, puppetry, and drama that allow them to respond in a variety of ways to the texts they read. Ms. Askin, Ms. Bernstein, Mrs. Carone, Ms. Evans, Ms. Lopez, and Mrs. Rhodes teach our first grade students. Ms. Curry, Ms. Evans, Mrs. Kiviat, Mrs. Rhodes and Mrs. Salcetti teach our second grade reading initiative block. The goal of this balanced literacy approach to reading is that all students will be reading at target level by the end of second grade. We are embracing Curriculum 2.0 in the primary grades