At the start of this school year, we set an ambitious goal for our Kindergarten learners: ensure 90% are reading-ready before graduating from Early Years. This target reflected our deep commitment to building a strong literacy foundation for a confident transition to Grade 1 and beyond. Today, we are thrilled to announce outstanding results! Thanks to the effective implementation of our UFLI program, 100% of our Kindergarten students are making significant progress in applying their knowledge and skills to decode words!
What Does This 100% Mean?
This 100% achievement means far more than memorizing words. Our Kindergarteners are unlocking how written language works! Equipped with segmenting and blending skills from their phonics instruction, every student can now encode (spell) monosyllabic words like “cap” and “clap.” Their ability to read and write these words stems from a robust understanding of letter sounds and how they combine.
Strong Foundations in Pre-K
This Kindergarten success builds upon incredible work in Pre-Kindergarten (PK). Our Pre-Kindergarten students were largely motivated through play, as our teachers skillfully created an environment that inspired them to explore the wonderful world of letters and words. By integrating foundational literacy skills into engaging activities, our PK students developed a love for language and a curiosity about written communication. As a testament to their progress, 95% of these students can also now legibly write their own name, setting them up beautifully for their journey into Kindergarten.
The Bedrock: Our Language-Rich Early Learning Center (ELC):
None of these achievements in PreKindergarten and Kindergarten would be possible without the foundation laid in our language-rich Early Learning Center (ELC)
We understand that early exposure to language is the bedrock of literacy. As students explore their world, teachers add thoughtful provocations – engaging questions and open-ended activities that spark curiosity, encourage dialogue, and expand vocabulary. This dynamic environment, coupled with a carefully curated process of storytelling and abundant exposure to books at an early age, truly jumpstarts the vital connection between spoken language and written literacy. It’s in these vibrant classrooms that our youngest learners not only discover the joy of words but also build the essential cognitive pathways that will serve them throughout their entire academic journey.
At SSIS we believe that by setting and achieving these ambitious goals, we are not just teaching children to read; we are opening up a world of possibilities for them. A strong start in reading significantly impacts a child’s overall academic success and fosters a lifelong love of learning.
