Paving the road to literacy one child at a time

Published 10:16 am Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Kari Schuh wears many hats. Her latest one has been helping to improve literacy for island children.

Schuh’s interest in developing young readers came to her via the literacy alignment project for pre-school to third graders, led by Dave Matteson, author and educator. The project is a national movement to develop the cognitive and social skills for children that establish strong foundations for future learning. The program focuses on leadership, instruction, community partnerships and family engagement.

Use of language and knowledge of “literacy” when entering kindergarten is critical to a student’s ability to become a fluent reader and writer by third grade, according to the Northwest Educational Service District’s website.

“I was wanting to drink the David Matteson ‘kool-aid,’” said Schuh, who is also the special education director at the Orcas Island School District. “He was booked all of last year, but in October there was a potential for us to sign on.”

The next step was funding.

Matteson’s time, covered by the Northwest Educational Service District and a Gates Foundation grant, was not a problem but the Orcas Island staff and extra materials needed for the program was sorely lacking any finances.

“The money needed adds up quickly,” Schuh said.

Shuch started writing a grant application with Montessori, Children’s House and Kaleidoscope.

Luckily, funds to the tune of $12,252 came through from the Orcas Island Community Foundation, the Orcas Branch of the Lutheran Church of the San Juan Islands and an anonymous donor.

“The church wants to support the needs of the community and we’re especially concerned about children,” said Pastor Anne Hall, of the Lutheran Church. “Literacy is essential to be able to succeed and thrive in this society and do good.”

On May 19, Matteson led his first overview session with staff. Next year he will hold three full day classroom demonstrations starting in September and three half day professional development sessions.

“Matteson is going to teach techniques, incorporating story telling, art, reading and writing all in one ball of wax,” Schuh said.

Matteson focuses on what teachers can be doing to make sure kids are developing literacy skills. He’s not afraid to help students using his own hands to draw a square or circle, which are the pictures that create a foundation for reading.

“We don’t start at the words and letters and sounds – in writing we start with the idea that we have a story to tell and we’re gonna draw pictures to tell the story and then we’re gonna think about words,” said Matteson in an introduction video about the program.

Matteson is an instructor who has  received rave reviews across the northwest. Test scores have rocketed in other districts after they participated in the program, said Schuh.

For Pastor Hall, literacy opens the door to a better future in and outside of the classroom.

“Literacy is also a way out of poverty,” Hall said. “All children deserve an equal chance to thrive.”

For more info, visit http://foundationsinliteracy.org or www.nwesd.org/early-learning/p-3-alignment.