Parent Coffee - Literacy Instruction at Mount Daniel Elementary

Join Mount Daniel Reading Specialists Carly Swanson and Phyllis Kravinsky as they provide an informative overview of literacy instruction at our school. Learn about the Virginia Literacy Act and how this new legislation has shaped our approach to teaching reading and writing at Mount Daniel.This presentation explains the structured literacy model now being implemented across Virginia schools and introduces Amplify CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts), our comprehensive literacy curriculum. The specialists break down the science of reading using the "reading rope" model that illustrates how word recognition skills and language comprehension work together to create skilled readers.Discover how our literacy instruction is organized into knowledge and skills strands, with explicit teaching of phonics using a "sounds first" approach. The specialists explain how student progress is monitored through the Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALS) and outline the tiered support system that ensures all students receive appropriate instruction.The session concludes with valuable at-home resources for families and addresses parent questions about implementation and student support strategies. This informative presentation provides parents with insight into Mount Daniel's approach to literacy education and how we're building strong foundational reading skills for all students.