Education leaders do not seek a monetary return on their investments, but they do seek greater student learning and cost-efficiency. This is called the academic return on investment for schools. This article is about increasing the academic return on investment through early literacy initiatives.
Sprig Learning Wins Best Language Learning App of 2018
We are thrilled to announce that the Sprig Learning Bookshelf has been named the Tech Edvocate’s Best Language Learning App of 2018!
The Sprig Learning Bookshelf was built in partnership with Mi’kmaw Kina’matenwey of Nova Scotia, and provides Indigenous and non-indigenous students with access to guided reading in both the English and Mi’kmaw language. It provides early literacy support through levelled readers, and a variety of interactive features.
As an extension of the Sprig Learning Oral Language Program, the Sprig Bookshelf brings the stories of the Mi’kmaw people in Nova Scotia to life and provides access to parents, caregivers, and educators looking to extend learning beyond the classroom. Readers can choose to either read alone, or have the story read to them in either English or Mi’kmaw.
Beyond early literacy, the Sprig Learning Bookshelf acts as a tool for language revitalization among the Mi’kmaw community in Nova Scotia. Each of the four titles currently featured in the bookshelf was created in partnership with a working group of educators, community members, and Elders to represent the localized experience and culture of Mi’kmaw students. Speakers and non-speakers alike can see the Mi’kmaw language come to life, and promote language adoption and retention among some of their youngest speakers.
Download The Sprig Learning Bookshelf for free on the iOS app store for iPad Air today.
For more information about a holistic approach to assessment or holistic education, send us an email at letstalk@spriglearning.com.
More from the Sprig Blog
Early Literacy: Academic Return on Investment (ROI) For Schools
The ABCs of Supporting Reading Specialists
Approximately 4 million students are enrolled in Grade 3 in the US in 2022. We regularly read reports from different states about the percentage of Grade 3 and Grade 4 students scoring below the state assessment level for reading proficiency. It ranges from 20% to as much as 60%.
Even if the lower quartile is considered, that means 1 million students are struggling to read in the US. It’s quite a daunting task for reading specialists, with each reading specialist, on average ,responsible for supporting 52 students!
In this article, we look at the nature of the job that is done by reading/literacy specialists, evidence of their effectiveness, and put forward ways in which we can better support them.
The Undeniable Case for Early Literacy Intervention
Often the word “literacy intervention” conjures up thoughts that relate to cost-inefficiencies and doubts over its overall efficiency.
But with hundreds of reading intervention programs being used by thousands of schools, we are past the point of debating the usability of interventions.
Rather, the focus should be on how to best implement literacy interventions in schools.