In a Highline elementary classroom, students gather in small groups, reading a story together. The teacher pauses to ask, “What do you think the character will do next?” In another school, a science teacher guides students through a complex article, stopping to unpack vocabulary words like photosynthesis and habitat. Across Highline, you’ll also find students in dual language classrooms reading in English and Spanish, making explicit connections between both languages.
These are not isolated practices. They are part of a districtwide effort to strengthen literacy—one of four priority areas in Highline—because reading is the foundation for all other learning.
Why Literacy Matters Now
At a recent School Board work session on literacy, Superintendent Dr. Ivan Duran spoke about the urgency of this work. “Our kids’ futures depend on this,” he said. He pointed out that reading scores nationwide are at their lowest levels since 1992, with nearly one in three high school seniors lacking basic reading skills. He also cited the impact of the pandemic, absenteeism and even social media use as factors that make this work more urgent than ever.
“This is not just about our youngest students,” he added. “Reading challenges extend into middle and high school. Literacy is the gateway to all other learning.”
What We’re Doing in Elementary Schools
- Educators are weaving writing into daily lessons to deepen comprehension.
- Lessons are clear and follow a logical order, focusing on phonics (sounding out words), fluency (reading smoothly), vocabulary (learning new words), and comprehension (understanding what’s read).
- Educators are reviewing student progress to see where extra support is needed, especially in vocabulary and comprehension.
- Educators help students build literacy in both English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, a strategy proven to strengthen long-term achievement.
What We’re Doing in Middle and High Schools
- Students spend more time reading, often 90 minutes a day, in different subjects.
- Teachers are reviewing assessments and data on student reading to plan responsive instruction that meets students’ needs.
- Educators focus on building vocabulary and encourage conversations where students explain, question, and discuss what they read.
- Middle and high school teachers receive support, training and tools to support adolescent readers.
Next Steps in Highline’s Literacy Work
In the months ahead, you may notice students talking more about what they read, using new vocabulary strategies across subjects, and engaging with more culturally relevant books and materials. Educators are taking part in training on the basics of reading and attending districtwide learning days focused on literacy.
This work will continue throughout the year. As teachers get more support and resources, families will see students grow more confident in reading and writing—ready for the next steps in school and life.
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How We Teach Reading in Highline
Literacy is one of Highline’s four big priorities this year—because reading is the foundation for success in every subject and every grade. Our approach to reading is grounded in decades of research, known as the science of reading, a large body of research on how children learn to read and write.