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United Way Read To Succeed Sites Pilot Innovative Curriculum
April 06, 2011United Way Read To Succeed Sites Pilot Innovative Curriculum
New Curriculum Designed to Develop “the Whole Child” Will Be Tested Here Before Roll-out Nationally
NASHVILLE, TN—Three United Way of Metropolitan Nashville Read to Succeed sites will pilot a nationally-innovative new curriculum that emphasizes the importance of social emotional development of pre-schoolers in addition to traditionally-emphasized intellectual development.
United Way announced a new partnership with Frog Street Press during an event at King’s Daughters Child Development Center on Wednesday.
“In the past decade, there has been an enormous amount of scientifically-based reading research emphasizing the importance of social and emotional stability as well as phonics, comprehension and vocabulary,” Phil Orr, United Way’s Senior Vice President of Community Investments said Wednesday. “We are excited to be on the leading edge of this new learning toolbox.”
The event launched a new comprehensive preschool curriculum, Frog Street Pre-K, which integrates instruction across developmental domains and early learning disciplines. This researched-based curriculum exceeds the Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards requirements.
The national project chose United Way of Metropolitan Nashville’s Read to Succeed program to validate the success of learning with the implementations of Frog Street Pre-K. The new pilot program is being implemented in three Nashville Read to Succeed pre-school classrooms King’s Daughters Child, Development Center, McNeilly Center for Children and St. Mary Villa Child Development Center
The early results of this national endeavor are exciting and end of the year evaluations will help support the continued efforts of the teachers, children and the fidelity of the curriculum, Orr said.
United Way’s Read to Succeed program has been effective in raising the reading readiness of pre-school students in some of Nashville’s most “at-risk” neighborhoods. Six years ago, 33% of five-year-olds were ready to read and learn when they entered Kindergarten.
This year, over 98% of children in Read to Succeed classrooms across the city tested “ready to learn” when they finished pre-school. United Way of Metropolitan Nashville and eleven partner agencies now operate 37 Read to Succeed classrooms in 14 sites.
More information about Nashville’s Read to Succeed program can be found at www.unitedwaynashville.org.
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