- Janice Stilwell, Instructional Specialist
- Title I Reading
Richmond Public Schools, with 28 elementary schools, provides our students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grades with core reading programs based on research-based strategies and skills. The students in Richmond Public Schools receive daily instruction in the five components of reading as determined by the National Reading Panel - phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, comprehension, and fluency.
Eighteen of our elementary schools use Voyager ULS as their core reading program in Kindergarten through second grade and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in grades three through five. The remaining nine schools utilize Houghton Mifflin Harcourt throughout all grade levels. Progress monitoring is maintained through benchmark assessments in Voyager, PALS Quick Checks, and our Early Reading Intervention Programs.
Daily writing instruction is provided in all elementary grades as well. Writing instruction is taught through direct instruction and follows the writing process from planning to publishing. Each student's writing is kept in a writing portfolio to monitor progress. In April, RPS celebrates our young authors in grades Kindergarten through 12 with a Creative Writing Festival. For the past four years, the Children's Museum has partnered with RPS in this annual event.