Classmates Literacy Foundation

This Cap Times article is written about Wisconsin but it could be Anywhere, USA - the story is the same. A shift is happening in reading instruction nationwide but it is slow and complex and teachers, children, and families cannot afford to wait for systems to catch up. Our kids have one opportunity to build a strong foundation in reading, and if we don't get it right in the early elementary years everything else will suffer. The evidence-based practices referred to in this article are how Marsha Geller and the team at the Slant System have been preparing teachers for 30 years. Educators want this training and the tools to help their students make the progress they know is possible. Amid all the noise, Classmates Literacy Foundation and the SLANT System Orton-Gillingham Structured Literacy team remain dedicated to supporting educators in their pursuit of effective training, ensuring that EVERY child has access to quality literacy education. Let’s get it right—our kids deserve it. https://lnkd.in/g_NefMRs

Check out this insightful article written by longtime educator and CLF Board Member Jillayne Benjamin. "The move towards decodable texts represents a significant shift in early literacy instruction, one that is grounded in research and designed to support the development of strong reading skills."

Thank you so much to our friends at Total Administrative Services Corporation (TASC)! CLF is incredibly grateful for the generous grant that will empower our mission to support teachers and strengthen literacy education. Thank you! TASC (Total Administrative Services Corporation)

On National Nonprofit Day we celebrate the incredible nonprofits serving our communities! Together, we are building a stronger, more equitable community, and Classmates Literacy Foundation is proud to stand alongside you in this important work. Thank you for all that you do!

23 Teachers Trained!! We are overwhelmed with gratitude for our incredible supporters! Thanks to the generosity of our partners and nearly 100 individual donors, the Classmates Literacy Foundation has supported training for 23 dedicated teachers across three states in just over six months! These 23 educators will start the new school year empowered with knowledge and tools to better serve all their students! Thank you for believing in our mission and joining us on this journey. We are just getting started! @followers

Summer vibes are here! Welcome to the latest edition of Reading Between the Lines, the bi-monthly newsletter from the Classmates Literacy Foundation. In this edition: The Summer Slide: How to Prevent Learning Loss During the Break Reading Interventionist, Jenn Wright shares her Slant training experience Teacher/Parent Resource: Phonics Read-Alouds

As we close out teacher appreciation week Classmates Literacy Foundation wants to thank the extraordinary educators who serve on our Board of Directors and those who have helped move our mission forward over the past 6 months. Thanks for all you have done and continue to do. Beth Hatlen Karla O'Brien Keegan Wilson Jillayne Benjamin Yvette Manns, M. Ed. Marsha Geller

Today we proudly introduce CLF Board Member, Jillayne Benjamin. Jillayne has dedicated her professional life to the wellbeing of children and is a passionate advocate for literacy. Over 20 years she has served students in both the classroom and in key roles in Chicago-based non-profit organizations. Jillayne has impacted thousands of children and families over the course of her career and we are honored to have her serve on the CLF Board of Directors! Thank you, Jillayne, for all you do!

Today we want to introduce and celebrate the amazing Keegan Wilson, a Founding Board Member of Classmates Literacy Foundation. Keegan is an educator, national presenter and fierce advocate for students with dyslexia and other learning differences. Over the past 19 years she has served as a teacher, interventionist and consultant and is passionate about working with students and families who need extra support in literacy. I had the privilege of speaking to Keegan's former student, Aaliyah, whose words brought me to tears. Thank you, Keegan, for all you do!