Greenway Readers Level Up with Specialized Books

Greenway Readers Level Up with Specialized Books

Monday, December 4th, 2023

Academic Coaches Tomi Kluver and Katrina Simkins-Moore recently introduced new phonics-based reading materials and saw their reading intervention students thrive. Eager for their students’ growth to continue, Kluver contacted the Beaverton Education Foundation (BEF) with a request – more decodable books to captivate their students and show that reading is fun – and BEF delivered.

“Decodable texts are the training wheels students often need to learn to read.” explained Kluver, adding, “But, teaching foundational decoding skills has been difficult, due to the current lack of tools in our elementary buildings.”

Decodable books encourage students to sound out words instead of predicting from other clues, like illustrations. The positive impact decodable reading has brought to reluctant readers has been inspiring. While a shift in language arts curriculum is underway, educators want to incorporate structured practice decoding words, and the joy it brings our young learners, into the classroom immediately. 

“I love my new books,” shared an excited young learner at Greenway Elementary. “And, now I can fill my classroom book box with them too.”  

Funding for Greenway’s decodable books project was made possible by BEF’s Anne Kelly Ofstun Tubby Fund. The Anne Kelly Ofstun Tubby Fund values the importance and need for academic excellence and opportunity for all students and provides financial assistance to support projects like yours through its annual review process. The Ofstun Tubby family recognizes the value of books as a key component of student success.