WEAKLEY READERS READING PROGRAM
The Weakley Readers Reading program involves a 45-minute block of reading instruction for all first and second graders in addition to regular classroom reading instruction. The kindergarten program involves a 30-minute block of instruction.
In first and second grades, students read leveled readers in small groups of six or fewer students per instructor. Reading, writing, and phonics activities are completed during this block, and students take a book home for nightly reading practice. Students are tested using the DIBELS assessment as well as the Rigby Benchmark Kit. The program is based on Small Group Reading Instruction by Beverly Tyner.
The kindergarten Weakley Readers began in January 2005 with students completing a set of 25 phonemic awareness lessons. After completing these lessons, students moved into small group reading lessons similar to the first grade program described above. Kindergarten students will begin these lessons in November of this year and continue reading groups throughout the remainder of the school year.