The Iowa Department of Education has allocated $3.5 million to provide every 1st grader in the state with book packs aimed at improving their reading skills. The book packs contain decodable books, designed to help children sound out words and improve literacy. The curriculum is based on the science of reading, which focuses on teaching kids to sound out parts of words and then putting them together to learn to read.
First-grade teacher Kari Osborne emphasizes the importance of parents helping their kids read with these book packs at home. She encourages families to be involved in their child’s reading education by using the decodable books. The books come with information on the reading skill being taught and QR codes for parents to scan and get more guidance on how to instruct their children.
The goal of the initiative is to get kids to learn to read and enjoy reading both at school and at home. Educators hope that by involving families in this process, children will have a more well-rounded reading experience. For more information on the decodable book packs, the Department of Education’s website offers additional resources and support. This effort reflects Iowa’s commitment to improving literacy and education for its young students.
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