Sold a Story 11: The Outlier
Feb 20, 2025
In a surprising twist, a struggling Rust Belt town boasts remarkable reading success among its economically disadvantaged students. A deep dive reveals the essential role of preschool programs and a focus on spoken language. Innovative phonics instruction emphasizes letter sounds to enhance reading skills. Cooperative learning strategies allow students to practice extensively, while consistent teacher training ensures every educator is equipped to teach reading. Attendance initiatives further bolster student engagement, creating a thriving literacy environment.
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A School That Defied Expectations
- Karen Chenoweth discovered an elementary school in Steubenville where every third grader passed the state reading test.
- The school stood out because its students outperformed similar-poverty districts by more than two grade levels.
Preschool As The Reading Foundation
- Steubenville runs a robust preschool program with nearly 80% participation and low cost for families.
- The district uses preschool attendance and oral language practice as a foundation for later reading success.
Teach Sounds Before Names
- Steubenville emphasizes letter sounds before letter names to reduce confusion when decoding words.
- Focusing on how children learn (not just what they learn) shapes instructional choices like the sounds-first approach.