Integrity. Trust we are when a
source Houston. Welcome back.
Good morning to Jackie
Daughtry executive directive
literacy now and we’re talking
also with Brancheau Walters,
John, to the principal of a a
Milne elementary school.
>> Thank you both for being
here. We’re going to talk
about a couple things. First of there’s a big project
of there’s a big project
coming up on March. 2nd. But
first of all, Jackie, what’s
the mission of literacy now?
>> Well, our primary goal is to ensure that the children
to ensure that the children
that we serve are reading on
or even above grade level by
the end of 3rd grade is that
isn’t very pivotal year in
their academic development. That will set the course for
That will set the course for
their fur really the rest of
their lives.
>> And I know the research has
been out for a long time that
that is actually true. And one
of the things you’re doing is
this a Houston reads Day, which is scheduled for March.
which is scheduled for March.
Second, guess when you hope to
have hundreds of Houstonians
come into schools and do some
reading to children. Talk
about how this came about and
the goals for this year.
>> So we are kicking off the
National read aloud Man which
which starts on actually march
the first. And then this
doctor Seuss’s birthday. So
that’s a little fun twist that will do.
will do.
>> But the goal of
>> Houston Re say this is our
second annual last year. We
were virtual this year. Thank God we’re in person our goals
God we’re in person our goals
are we have 3 goals. First is
to raise awareness for the
literacy crisis we have right
here in Houston. Among so many
of our children. And then second is to let people know
second is to let people know
what we at literacy now are
doing to tackle that crisis.
And then 3rd, of course, is to
raise funds so that we can expand our services to more
expand our services to more
schools and more children in
Houston.
>> Principal Johnson, you’re
on the front lines of
educating our children. We
know statistics tell us that
40% of Houston children aren’t
ready for kindergarten and more than 70%. Not reading at
more than 70%. Not reading at
grade level. Talk about how
you’re emphasizing reading and
what your hopes are for the
Houston read. Stay at your
school. >> Absolutely. And that is our
>> Absolutely. And that is our
reality the rally is that many
of our students come to us
without the prerequisites
without the foundational
skills. And so we always contract services with
contract services with
literacy. Now and we set
generous amount each year to
make sure that we’re able to
help develop our students. Our goal is to bring the world
goal is to bring the world
into the classroom and that’s
to literature. And later, see
now it’s helped us to that.
Houston reached a is a big
event that we look forward to
and we have a lot of great
events that are mapped out for the month of March to ensure
the month of March to ensure
that our students needs are
being met. So tough for people
in the know. Tell me what it’s
like for you. When you see a
student.
>> Who gets it that bold? That figurative light bulb goes on
figurative light bulb goes on
and they got in. They really
embrace and they know they can
read. It’s rewarding. I mean,
to see the growth students are
every child wants to be successful. And so the moment
successful. And so the moment
that they learn a new word or
they tackle a new book are no
objective.
>> I light up as a principle.
That’s what I’m there for. So if I can introduce them to a
if I can introduce them to a
new concept are putting new
book in their hand that
excites me. That makes me
fulfilled. And that’s what I
look forward to each day. So
I’m going guess I’m just going
to go out a limb here and say that both of you are probably
that both of you are probably
pretty optimistic people by
nature.
>> I mean, yeah, educators are
you are for what you’re doing.
Well, talk about what kind of
improvement can you reasonably expect to see from students
expect to see from students
you work with parents and
students to try to get them.
So talk about what kind of
expectation you get from the
potential for their growth in terms of reading.
terms of reading.
>> Well, generally speaking
the now LeBron show speak
specifically what she’s seeing
with our student that we serve in her
in her
>> We really look at.
>> Exponential growth in a
short time because we’re
working with students for on
one. And so it’s very targeted, very specific
targeted, very specific
instruction to fill in the
gaps of the skills that they
don’t have for various
reasons. And we’re working
with kindergarten through
second graders said the very youngest student indeed, bill,
youngest student indeed, bill,
that strong foundation. So
really to set them up for
success and not only
academically, but building
their confidence because when they are in an environment
they are in an environment
where they can really succeed
with Darren, the little small
group with other kids who are
struggling. It makes them feel like a lot can try. I can do
like a lot can try. I can do
it in like Brancheau said when
that light bulb goes on. Oh,
my gosh, it’s like it’s
amazing. What kind of
experience, what kind
increases are you seeing in
your Well, 37% of our students are from second language
are from second language
backgrounds. And that means
that there.
>> Primary language is other
than English. And it’s really
important for us to meet meet
the needs of our most fragile
population, which is our
special education students and
our students from second
language backgrounds.
>> And so while we want all
students to be reading by 3rd
grade, we know that that’s not
the reality. But what should
happen no matter what is that
every student should show
progress as a result of being
engaged in quality
instruction, receiving intense
intervention. And so we make
it a priority each year to
provide them that level of
support. And we make an
intense and were very
intentional. We have a lot of
feedback from families where
they’re seeing the increase of
just basic vocabulary with
their child daily interaction.
And we have feedback from
teachers where they’re seeing
that they’re growing by reading every six-week cycle.
reading every six-week cycle.
And so that’s a huge gain and
a huge celebration for our
students in our family. So
March second, how do people
get involved if they want to
come and be a part of it?
>> Well, they can go to our website at literacy now,
website at literacy now,
Houston Dot Org and everything
is on our home page. You can
find out everything you want
to know about that. And us
just in general, we love to have everybody join us. We’ll