5 Sneaky-Fun Ways to Help Kids Keep Up Their Reading Skills This Summer (No Worksheets Needed!)
Summer is all about fun. Splash parks, drippy popsicles, and in my house… approximately 47 snack breaks a day. But it’s also when a lot of young readers start to slide a bit without the routine of school. The good news is you don’t need flashcards or anything fancy to keep those skills sharp. Honestly, the best stuff doesn’t even feel like learning.
Teaching Every Reader in a Wonderfully Diverse Classroom
“For years, I wanted to take a structured literacy course, but the prohibitively high cost kept me from doing so. Since my Slant System training, I am more confident than ever before in providing effective intervention and my students' growth has been evident.”
Pat & Pals Decodable Graphic Novels: Parent & Educator Resource
At CLF, we celebrate the educators and innovators who make a lasting impact on readers. One of them is Sue Marasciulo, a lifelong special education teacher and the author behind the HILARIOUS Pat & Pals decodable book series.
Seven Languages, One Goal: Addressing My Students' Unique Literacy Needs
“Getting this training has changed the way I see struggling readers. I can identify the characteristics of a struggling reader much more readily. I also feel I now have a roadmap of how to begin appropriate interventions. Truly, all teachers should have this course in their toolbelt.”
Meet Megan
"Even with a master’s degree in education and 20 years of classroom experience, I was never taught the evidence-based methods I’m now learning through my Slant training. Like most teachers, this knowledge was not part of my training. Because of this, I frequently see families of children who learn differently struggling to address unfinished learning, often without the time, resources, or expertise to help their kids develop critical foundational skills.”
Jeannine’s Story
When Jeannine heard about the challenges the family was experiencing she stepped up in a BIG way. Jeannine chose to dedicate her time to this family at no cost. Two to three times a week, Jeannine drives 30 minutes to the family’s home to provide individualized, one-on-one literacy tutoring to the two children—one in second grade and the other in fifth grade.
Look what we achieved together in one year!
In 2024, our first year of operation, we supported 31 extraordinary educators serving in 27 schools. Collectively, these teachers participated in 1,245 hours of training and are serving 1,539 students this school year.
Matteo’s Story
Meet Matteo, a determined 15-year-old who loves his family and sports. Diagnosed with multiple layers of dyslexia, Matteo was once told he would never be able to read or write and would always depend on others. But through his resilience, and with the support of his family and a Slant trained tutor, Matteo has defied all expectations— recently finishing 8th grade with a 3.5 GPA.
"Kim’s only regret in getting certified in SLANT is that she did not find it early enough to intervene with her own two children who are dyslexic thinkers."
Kim Hillard is an special educator currently participating in the SLANT year long practicum, partially funded by Classmates Literacy Foundation. She shares her story and the tremendous impact her SLANT training is having on her students.
“In my 25 years of teaching I have never seen this kind of growth.”
February 14, 2024
Tina Shipman is a long-time educator and one of the first teachers funded by Classmates Literacy Foundation.