Literacy is a gateway to all other academic subjects. If students can read, they can learn about history, science, math, social studies and more. But too often, schools stop teaching students how to read after elementary school. Some of the most successful districts nationwide encourage middle and high schools to maintain a focus on reading, building students’ vocabulary and working on comprehension while asking students to read to gain new knowledge. Some principals may not feel they have the content area expertise to be literacy leaders in their schools, but spearheading a professional learning focus on literacy is one way administrators can orchestrate a shift.
Digital tools provide schools with a unique opportunity to personalize learning for students, giving them the exact support they need when they need it. Focusing that power on literacy instruction is an effort that can have ripple effects across the academic spectrum.