Read On Arizona

A new survey by for the Future of Arizona shows Arizona voters across all political parties support tangible actions to ensure a quality education for every child in Arizona, including 94% in support of “ensuring teachers are trained in the most effective approaches to teaching reading."

Building educator capacity in the science of reading is one of Read On Arizona’s four strategic priorities for accelerating progress in early literacy and third-grade reading in our state.

Learn more about the survey results and how we're collaborating with partners across Arizona to empower educators with the knowledge and tools they need to be successful, including high-quality professional development and literacy coaching based in the science of reading: bit.ly/3QVRkuG

🗨️You're engaging in Smart Talk when you have back-and-forth conversations with your young child.

🌟 Today's tip is REPEAT 🌟

When you respond to and echo the sounds and words your little one shows interest in, you’re engaging in a conversation with your children and supporting their early language development.

➡️ Find more practical and easy tips to nurture your child's skills through Smart Talk at readonarizona.org/resources/smart-talk



https://youtu.be/qH52576NQB8?si=ZA_yQzibV1eaqGdD

Repeat

MapLIT is here to help you make decisions on strategies, policies, and investments in education - driven by data. Learn more Read On Arizon's MapLIT, developed in collaboration with Maricopa Association of Governments. Explore the data that impacts school readiness and early literacy in Arizona through this interactive tool: readonarizona.org/data-tools/maplit/

https://youtu.be/WQIXqVN_Xhc?si=mnczPTo9mlaytaCM

MapLIT: Overview Read On Arizona's MapLIT is a powerful, interactive tool for exploring key data sets that impact school readiness and early literacy in Arizona. Learn more a...

Our shared goal: 72% of Arizona’s third graders at reading proficiency by 2030. 📚

We're working with partners and Read On communities across Arizona to make sure our young learners have evidence-based early literacy and learning experiences so they are ready for kindergarten and on track to become successful readers.

Learn more at bit.ly/3Kb3Y5n

Arizona organizations fight pandemic literacy loss PHOENIX — Child literacy is at the forefront for many Arizona educators, as English Language Arts and reading comprehension prepare students for adulthood and future careers.

Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎

This week, we recognize and celebrate the devoted educators who inspire and empower our students. From laying the groundwork for strong reading skills to sparking a lifelong passion for learning, teachers are essential to our students’ success. 📚

Join us in celebrating our Arizona educators who pave the way for bright futures! Who's a teacher you'd like to give a shoutout to this week? Tag them below!

Talking Tennis: Serve and Return 🎾

Did you know that chatting with your baby is like a friendly game of tennis?

Every coo, giggle, and babble from your little one is a serve waiting for your return! Even before they can speak words, having these back-and-forth conversations with your child is key to developing their language and literacy skills. Take a peek at this video from Things First to get a courtside view of how to play talk tennis with your baby.

➡️ Find more practical and easy tips to nurture your child's skills through Smart Talk at readonarizona.org/resources/smart-talk

https://youtu.be/uklupDlLkOs?si=ILgA2-eCF15SpQj3

Talking Tennis: Serve and Return Babies can't talk, but they're still communication superstars. Having back-and-forth "conversations" with your baby helps them learn and develop language. It...

Did you know that having back-and-forth conversations with young children — even before they can use words — helps build their language and literacy skills? 🗨️ We call that Smart Talk! 🗨️

📖 Today our tip is to READ with your young child. Sharing books and telling stories are simple ways to spark your child's interest in reading from a young age. Reading is also a great way to introduce new and unusual words to build their vocabulary!

🌟 Find easy ways to nurture your child's literacy skills through Smart Talk at readonarizona.org/resources/smart-talk



youtu.be/9Y5vpflDcPY?si=eRdslHIxt7Znf8KQ

Read

Students’ Chronic Absenteeism Is a Growing Issue - Greater Phoenix In Business Magazine Chronic absenteeism among Arizona students has steadily increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, putting students and our future Arizona leaders at risk. Chronic absenteeism increased from 14% in 2019 to 34% in 2022, according to data from the Arizona Department of Education. When a K-12 student misse...

🗨️ You're engaging in Smart Talk when you have back-and-forth conversations with your young child.

🌟Today's Tip: RESPOND🌟

Listening and responding to your child is key. Responding to what your child does or says helps extend the conversation and emphasizes back-and-forth interactions that build important language and literacy skills.

➡️Find more practical and easy tips to nurture your child's skills through Smart Talk at readonarizona.org/resources/smart-talk

https://youtu.be/uUtF6rW4tzg?si=NEvhKlam_KJILF50

Respond

📖 From 2013 to 2022, Arizona was 1 of only 6 states to make gains in fourth-grade reading, improving from 45th to 28th in the nation.

We're on the right course and we still have a long way to go. By 2030, our shared goal is for 72% of our third graders to be reading proficiently, and 90% by 2040.

Reaching this goal will take all of us working together to achieve better literacy outcomes faster. 📘

Visit our new website to learn more about how we're working together with partners and communities across the state to improve third-grade reading outcomes for Arizona's students: readonarizona.org/

🗨️ Smart Talk is having back-and-forth conversations with young children to help them develop language and literacy skills.

👉 Our tip of the day? Ask!

Ask your child open-ended questions — who, what, where, when, and why. As children grow older, they use language to ask questions. But a baby or toddler may be asking a question when they point at something or look at an interesting object. When a young child asks a question without using words, you can imagine the question they might be thinking and ask them.

➡️ Check out this video and visit readonarizona.org/resources/smart-talk/ for more tips on asking questions to help nurture your child's literacy, language, and thinking skills.

Ask

📚 March is National Reading Month!

At Read On Arizona, we know . Reading is the fundamental skill for success in school and beyond.

📖 Visit readonarizona.org to learn how we're working together to advance early literacy in Arizona. Find resources and information to help children become successful readers.

About Read On Arizona Read On Arizona is our state's early literacy initiative. Partners in Read On Arizona take a approach to improving language and literacy outcomes for childre...

Did you know talking to your baby, even before they can talk back, helps them develop language skills? 💬

Smart Talk highlights 5 easy ways to boost your child's learning: Describe, Ask, Respond, Read, and Repeat. Using these proven strategies, you can support your young child to learn, grow, and develop critical skills they'll need to become good readers and successful in school.

👉 Strategy #1 is Describe! As you go about your everyday activities, describe what you're doing, seeing, or feeling to your child. Allow them time to respond through words, sounds, or gestures. It's an easy yet powerful way to boost their language skills.

Start the conversation today and watch your child's world expand with words! ➡️ Visit readonarizona.org/resources/smart-talk/ to find more tips and resources.

Describe

Did you know that young children start developing literacy and language skills even before they can speak? Through quality conversations and meaningful interactions, babies and toddlers can learn, grow, and develop the skills they need to become good readers.

🗨️Smart Talk is having back-and-forth conversations with young children to help them develop language and literacy skills. Everyday moments - like mealtime, baths, going grocery shopping, and bedtime - are great opportunities for Smart Talk!

At Read On Arizona, we've developed tips and tools to help you make Smart Talk a part of your daily routine, whether you're a parent, grandparent, family member, educator, or early childcare professional:

Here's how:

🗨️ Describe - Talk about what you are doing, where you are, or what you see.
❓Ask - Ask open-ended questions
💬Respond - Listen and respond. React to what your child does or says.
📖 Read - Telling stories and reading books builds your child's vocabulary
🔁Repeat - Echo what your child says and show interest in what they're saying

Visit readonarizona.org/smart-talk to learn more about Smart Talk and dive into our tips and strategies. And, stay tuned for more!

Smart Talk Smart Talk is having back-and-forth conversations with young children, even before they can use words, to help develop early literacy skills.

At Read On Arizona, we know .

📚 Students who read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade are 4 times more likely to graduate high school. Too many students in Arizona are not reaching this milestone. We're working to change that.

✅ Our shared goal: 72% of our third-graders in Arizona to be reading proficiently by 2030.

📚 Find family resources like Smart Talk to support your child in becoming a successful reader: readonarizona.org

About Read On Arizona Read On Arizona is our state's early literacy initiative. Partners in Read On Arizona take a approach to improving language and literacy outcomes for childre...

Arizona has one of the highest chronic absenteeism rates in the nation 🪑 We're working to support students and keep them in school alongside Valley of the Sun United Way, Read On Arizona and Attendance Works.

Hear more from our leadership and partners on pages 43-45 ➡️ https://ow.ly/oO4f50QFXN0

City of Mesa, Arizona Government Mayor John Giles highlighted early literacy and the work of Read On Mesa in his State of the City 2024 on February 13.

“Education is a core value in our community,” Mayor Giles said, and “at the heart of everything is the ability to read.”

Noting that many of the city’s students fell behind in reading during the pandemic, he spotlighted Mesa’s new AARP Experience Corps tutoring program that connects retirees with young students to work on reading skills.

Experience Corps is just one part of Mesa’s commitment to early literacy, which Mayor Giles described as “an all-hands-on-deck initiative.”

“The power of Read On Mesa is ensuring that we’re all working together,” said Sarah Tolar, the city’s education and workforce administrator. “Working smarter and aligning our resources so that we can impact as many of our students as possible.”

Watch this short video about the city's Experience Corps program and Read On Mesa:

SOTC 2024: Mesa and Experience Corps Addressing Literacy

📅 Every school day counts for Arizona's students.

Read On Arizona is partnering with Education Forward Arizona to host a Power Hour on proven strategies to address chronic absence. Together, local and national experts and stakeholders will share strategies and insights on addressing chronic absenteeism through data-driven strategies and collaboration. Be part of this crucial conversation on December 13th.

🎤 Hear from Hedy Chang of Attendance Works, Lori Masseur of Read On Arizona discussing our state plan, and superintendents Dr. Scott Hagerman and William (Dan) Horsley sharing school-level strategies.

🤝Your participation matters! Register here for an opportunity to learn and engage with leaders dedicated to student success: bit.ly/3Tbvt4p

It’s essential to prioritize early literacy in Arizona 📚 Working together to improve children's literacy outcomes is key!

This week, we shared Arizona’s literacy strategies at the U.S. Department of Education's Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant convening alongside national experts Dr. Kymyona Burk, ExcelinED and Dr. Julie Riordan, Regional Educational Laboratory Northeast and Islands 🎤

32 states were in attendance. Our shared priorities were clear: implementing evidence-based strategies to strengthen literacy for children birth through grade 12. Here's how we'll get there in Arizona:

🍎Building educator capacity in the science of reading

📖 Scaling up evidence-based literacy solutions

🌐 Engaging families and communities to support school readiness and literacy

🏫 Expanding access to high-quality early learning

Together, we are transforming the literacy landscape of Arizona through collective action and collaboration. 🤝



Arizona Department of Education Valley of the Sun United Way

Hope you'll join us next week -- Tuesday 11/7 at noon -- for a conversation about our efforts to improve third grade reading in Arizona. Good things are happening statewide and in local Read On Communities. Thank you, Education Forward Arizona! Register: https://bit.ly/3tUKWLP

Bravo to Read On Avondale & SW Valley and Read On Tempe City of Tempe Government for being Pacesetter Honors finalists by Campaign for Grade-Level Reading for 2022-23. This national recognition reflects the incredible, collaborative work you and your partners are doing to support children and families and improve literacy in your communities. Both are shining examples of how communities can work collectively to provide a range of evidence-based programs and services that help children develop the early literacy skills they need to read at grade level.

New data analysis shows that chronic absence may be even worse than previously understood. "But when schools tailor their strategies to students' needs, they can make progress," said Terri Clark.

Post-Pandemic, 2 Out of 3 Students Attend Schools With High Chronic Absenteeism Analysis of federal data reveals ‘a relaxed attitude’ toward daily attendance, experts said.

The science of reading is much more than phonics:

"Data gathered in homes, at schools and in labs show that 1-to-3-year-old children who have conversations with older people learn to read more easily than children who do not.

And it's not just the sheer quantity of conversation that matters. The information embedded in those discussions shapes unfolding literacy skills. When adults talk substantively about events and objects, children are afforded a significant educational advantage: Their growing bodies of knowledge boost their reading skills."

Visit our website to learn about Smart Talk and the power of back-and-forth conversations with young children, even before they can respond with words.

Opinion | Our kids aren’t good readers. Here’s the reason. Teaching our kids to read is about more than sounding out words or summarizing texts. True reading comprehension requires more of students — and of schools.

In response to recent data reports on stalled learning recovery, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading will engage national leaders, representing state chiefs, superintendents, principals and others, to explore where and how some schools, districts and states are beating those national trends + what we can all learn from them. REGISTER: https://ow.ly/tU5v50PEWz7

Join us for on 10/10 to hear more about these strategies w/ Gracie Branch of National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), Superintendent Scott Hagerman of Tanque Verde Unified School District , Ann Levett of AASA, The School Superintendents Association , + Rosalyn Rice-Harris of CCSSO - The Council of Chief State School Officers .