District adds Magnetic Reading Foundations curriculum to enhance reading, phonics learning at all elementaries

As part of Springfield Public School’s (SPS)commitment to enhance learning throughout all levels, the district’s Teaching and Learning Department has added the Magnetic Reading Foundations curriculum to all K-2 classrooms.

The new teaching materials were presented during the 2024 SPS In-Service Week; the district’s week-long, in-person summer event that bring teachers, staff and administrators together for collegial connection, trainings, inspiration and teaching materials.

More than 90 teachers, assistants and administrators from 12 elementary schools gathered at Maple Elementary to learn more about Magnetic Reading Foundations teaching materials and the many structured activities K-2 teachers can adopt to help children master phonics and develop strong reading skills.

“This program uses explicit and systematic instruction to teach all students the reading foundational skills of print concepts, phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics and word recognition, and fluency,” explained Angela Brewer, K-8 teacher on special assignment.

The new phonics-centered curriculum and learning materials supplement the existing Wonders K-5 English language arts program that was adopted by the district a year ago.

“We’ve seen different generations of things go on, and we’ve always known that phonics are important, but this program really helps fill a lot of gaps, particularly for children who are not getting as much preschool,” said Michael McGraw, kindergarten teacher at Two Rivers-Dos Ríos Elementary.

The Magnetic Reading Foundations program will be used whole group in kindergarten through second grade classrooms, with reading skills evaluations set for third grade.

“This program does a great job of helping us compare first grade skills and how that carries into third grade, a critical point at which you know whether a student is showing success in reading or not,” said Morgan Rees, kindergarten teacher at Guy Lee Elementary.

To learn more about the Magnetic Reading Foundations curriculum and ways to help children learn reading, visit the Curriculum Associates website.

Pictured above from left to right are Mt. Vernon teachers Haley Alexander, Alex Watson, and Annette Peters examine and discuss an exercise for teaching phonics to students.