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Curriculum Associates and City Year Enhance Literacy in Columbus Schools

In an inspiring collaboration, Curriculum Associates and City Year have come together to make a significant impact on literacy development among students in Columbus City Schools, specifically targeting those in Grades 3-5. This partnership is determined to close existing literacy gaps and reinforce reading skills through their innovative approaches.

The program, which rolls out this academic year, focuses its efforts on two Columbus schools: Trevitt Elementary and Livingston Elementary. Here, five AmeriCorps members are taking the lead as student success coaches, employing Curriculum Associates' renowned Magnetic Reading™ program aimed at providing evidence-based literacy instruction.

Elizabeth Bassford, the Vice President of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, emphasized the power of this partnership. She noted, "This collaboration combines City Year's strong ties with students and schools and the high-quality instructional resources offered by Curriculum Associates. Our goal is to provide every student with the chance to thrive not just as a reader, but also as an engaged thinker."

The structure of the program includes small group tutoring sessions led by AmeriCorps members, who leverage their proximity to the students as 'near-peer' mentors. This relationship fosters trust and promotes a supportive learning environment, encouraging students to embrace reading and learning with zest. The Magnetic Reading™ curriculum, grounded in Universal Design for Learning principles, integrates tailored support for English Learners, ensuring that all students receive the necessary assistance to enhance their foundational reading skills.

Ruth-Marie Lomax, Executive Director at City Year Columbus, highlighted the unique advantages of this mentoring approach. She said, "City Year AmeriCorps members cultivate strong relationships with students that nurture a genuine love for learning. By integrating their enthusiasm with our high-quality curriculum like Magnetic Reading™, students not only develop their reading skills but also grow in confidence, becoming capable learners and thinkers."

The partnership has already shown promising results. In the program’s inaugural year, 80% of AmeriCorps members reported increased confidence in their ability to support student literacy. To ensure effectiveness, each student success coach undergoes comprehensive training along with ongoing support from Curriculum Associates.

This initiative is a testament to how collaborative efforts can significantly uplift education in communities. Through targeted literacy support and innovative instructional resources, both Curriculum Associates and City Year are working tirelessly to shape bright futures for young learners across Columbus.

For anyone interested in learning more about the impactful work of City Year, visit CityYear.org. And for insights into the educational tools and programs offered by Curriculum Associates, head over to CurriculumAssociates.com.