Illinois District U-46 Receives Federal Grant to Improve Early Reading
Programs
November 1, 2003
ELGIN,
Ill. — Illinois School District U-46 has received
a $1,279,644 federal grant to implement a research-based approach
to early
literacy instruction developed by Colorado-based Mid-continent
Research for Education and Learning (McREL).
Through the U.S. Department
of Education grant, teachers in five classrooms at five different
U-46 preschool centers serving predominantly
low-income children will receive ongoing training and mentoring
to improve their early literacy instruction.
McREL’s “scaffolding” approach
to early literacy is based on more than 30 years of research
on effective early literacy
instruction. It has been recognized as an exemplary approach by
both the National
Staff Development Council and International
Bureau of Education at the United Nations.
The “scaffolding” approach
helps young learners develop specific early literacy skills,
including phonemic awareness (e.g.,
understanding phonics) and self-regulation (e.g., learning how
to follow rules and stay focused on tasks) that are often reserved
for older, school-aged children.
“We have found that when you set high expectations for young
students, they almost always meet or exceed them,” said Dr.
Elena Bodrova, a McREL research who developed the program.
“The ‘Achilles heel’ of innovation in teaching
has always been how to translate research into practice through
teacher training,” noted Tim Waters, McREL’s CEO. “Effective
teacher training requires intensive interaction from trainers and
mentoring from master teachers — that’s exactly what
McREL will provide early childhood educators in the Chicago area.”
Illinois School District U-46's
competitive grant is one of only 30 grants the U.S.
Department of Education awarded this year through its
Early Reading First program, an initiative designed to encourage
preschool programs to use research-based programs that enhance
young children’s language and cognitive development. More
information about the grant program is available at www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/index.html.
McREL is a nationally recognized, private,
nonprofit organization located in Aurora, Colo., dedicated to
improving education for
all students through applied research, product development and
service. Its staff of highly respected educators and researchers
focuses on providing educators and policymakers with the highest
quality, field-tested, research-based products and services available
in PreK–16 education.
