A NEW EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY COMES TO SYRACUSE

by Krista Norton | February 1, 2024

“Now I can learn right along with my child and know how I can help him to read.”  

The Bulldog Cafeteria was the site for joy, laughter, and a trial run for a new educational opportunity when Syracuse Elementary School opened its doors to 25 families for Decodable Book Family Night, Monday, January 22. 
Principal Liz Plunkett welcomed those in attendance, explaining, “The school is trying out a new reading program and we have the opportunity to try it for free for twenty-five students and your children were chosen.” 
The program Plunkett referenced is called Just Right Readers JRR). According to Title 1 reading teacher, Mary Larkin, they heard about the program when Superintendent Paul Larkin received an e-mail and passed it on to the elementary school.  
Just Right Reader decodables provide structured phonics practice which is what the students have already learned. The decodable books help the student decode every word, helping them learn to read. 
Mary explained through their Benchmark testing, they collect data from each individual student and that data is sent to JRR to make decodable books based on the individual need of the student. “This is very exciting, but it is expensive.” 
Each book contains a QR code in English and Spanish. Parents can scan the code which helps the parent know how to help the student. 
In each package there are three sets of books for the student to practice for six weeks. Then they receive another set. After another six weeks, they receive a third set of books, with each delivery more challenging. 
The evening included a supper of walking tacos, childcare, and a backpack for each of the twenty-five students which included a set of decodable books and free goods for each student’s reading level. 
Each family was able to visit four stations set up by teachers and para educators from the elementary school. The stations included tips for reading to your child, benefits of nursery rhymes, phonological games they can do at home or in the car and opening of the backpacks with the decodable books. 
In addition to the students unwrapping the backpacks with fun, learning material inside, Kelsey Mandeville from Parents As Teachers, Dana Gould, facilitator for Russell Child Development’s Learn and Play Project and Amy Brucker, Hamilton County Library, were on hand to inform parents about free programs and services within the community.  
Parents as Teachers is a program for birth to three years old which includes home visits and group connections. Mandeville can refer families to other resources if a parent or caregivers have concerns. 
“The big part is resource connection and getting families to engage in activities with their children. One way I do that is during a home visit, I bring games and toys which are age appropriate and targets each stage of the child’s development.” 
Learn and Play is for birth to five-year-olds, their parents and caregivers meet the first and third Thursday and Friday of each month at the preschool inside the Syracuse Christian Academy. 
Dana Gould explained the program offers developmentally appropriate activities which include reading stories and singing songs. “But more than that we do gross motor and fine motor activities for cognitive development and it’s an education piece for parents.” Adding, “Please call me and come play!”
Amy Brucker helped explain online resources available to students and families and brought several books the students might enjoy reading. 
As the evening ended, laughter could be heard as students were singing nursery rhymes and playing games. One parent was especially excited about the decodable book saying, “Now I can learn right along with my child and know how I can help him to read.”