Strengthening Young Readers Across Warwick: How Literacy Grants Are Making a Difference

Strengthening Young Readers Across Warwick: How Literacy Grants Are Making a Difference

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” — Dr. Seuss

These familiar words ring true for all of us: parents, educators, neighbors, and supporters. Doors have opened, opportunities have come – all with the help of the fundamental skill of reading. It’s for this reason that we have dedicated numerous grants towards innovative literacy resources for Warwick’s youngest students, so that they can discover the joy of reading and begin their journey to endless possibilities.

Thanks to our generous donors, these high-quality resources go above and beyond what the school district can provide. They offer extra ways to help students hone reading skills, get practice, and become strong readers.

Here’s a look at how these programs are shaping readers districtwide:

Fundations Readers: Building Skills One Sound at a Time

Practice is the key to reading success. Through the Fundations Readers grant, Kindergarteners are receiving more decodable practice books. These early-reading texts provide students with extra opportunities to strengthen the phonics skills they learn in class and help them become successful readers.

Early Literacy Manipulatives: Making Learning Hands-On

With the help of early literacy manipulatives, students can literally see and feel the building blocks of reading. Kits include sound cards, mirrors for practicing mouth formation, magnetic letters, flash cards, and handwriting tools. These resources make phonics instruction interactive and tangible, helping students decode and spell with growing independence.

Geodes Decodable Library: Texts That Spark Curiosity

Aligned with kindergarten through 6th-grade phonics instruction, the Geodesdecodable text sets offer stories that are rich in content and tightly connected to science, social studies, poems, and narrative themes. They are designed so that students can successfully read them by using the phonics skills they’ve already been taught, not guessing from pictures or memorizing words.

“These books held the attention of 5-year-olds so much that I added them as a regular, weekly activity for the remainder of the year.” – Malinda Stoner, Reading Specialist, Lititz Elementary

Wonderbook Listening Stations: Bringing Stories to Life

Warwick kindergarteners now have access to Wonderbooks, print books with a built-in audio device that reads aloud to students and offers literacy activities. This resource supports comprehension, vocabulary, and listening skills while helping students fall in love with stories. For many children, Wonderbooks provide an inviting, independent reading experience.

One Book, One School, One Community: Bringing Families Into the Story

Each year, Warwick elementary schools unite around a shared novel through the One Book, One School, One Community program. Families receive a book, reading schedule, and conversation prompts that create meaningful moments at home.

“With this program, parents and guardians convey to their children that reading matters and leads to success in school and beyond.” – Melissa Vulopas, Academic Learning Facilitator at John Beck Elementary

This beloved program strengthens school-to-home connections and builds a districtwide culture of reading.

A Growing Commitment to Literacy

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