This issue for these children will likely worsen without intervention.

65% of students living in poverty, 70% of black students, and 61% of Hispanic students need more support to meet standards in 3rd Grade Reading.

The problem for the children in our targeted schools will likely worsen exponentially without intervention. Minority children living in poverty who are not proficient readers by 3rd grade are eight times more likely to drop out of high school.

The schools where we are providing services are part of I-2020. These schools have been designated as low-performing and comprised of many low-income families. A typical example of the schools we serve is:

• TEA designated “Improvement Required”.
• Only 20% of students read at grade level in 2013.
• 81% of students are African American.
• 19% are Hispanic.
• 88% are economically disadvantaged.

Our program provides individualized attention, tutoring to achieve mastery in Language Arts, and applied learning to ensure academic success in Middle School, High School, and beyond.

We use the highly effective Gideon Curriculum.

Instructional materials include curriculum related to learning to read, reading comprehension and vocabulary, standardized test prep, grammar, writing. It is designed to promote self-discipline, focus and ability, confidence, self-challenging behaviors, and continued learning.

Hands-on manipulative opportunities are offered to support the Gideon curriculum and to ensure that each student’s learning style is addressed. Research shows that one of the most effective methods for engaging a child’s brain is through sensory exploration, hand movement, and the use of manipulatives. We educate through visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic, and social opportunities. We are using hands-on manipulatives to engage students and help them learn through tactile and movement activities. We talk to them about what they are doing and why and give them an opportunity to see what everyone is creating through each manipulative task.

Bringing reading to life is essential to engaging each child’s creativity. We provide a Literacy Tree where volunteers welcome students and read to them in a specially designated area of the classroom. Students can earn “Beacon Hill Bucks” for improved grades which can be spent in the Literacy Store on fun school supplies, headphones, cool socks, nail polish, watches, and more donated goodies.

While there is a range of literacy programs in Dallas, few rely on community volunteers who “look like” the children they serve. Children see their tutors as role models and begin to believe that they can become educated and successful.

Basic Understanding.

Beginning with the consonants, the Beacon Hill/Gideon Learning to Read program teaches not just letter recognition, but the sounds of the letters as well. We provide orally-read primary phonic story books to accompany this series that promote confidence and fluent readers.

Applying Critical Thinking Skills.

Our vocabulary program creates challenging activities to advance and strengthen basic language skills. Working with a list of twelve words and their definitions, the student engages in a variety of exercises such as crosswords, scrambled sentences, multiple choices and matching.

Strategies to Improve Comprehension.

The Beacon Hill/Gideon curriculum provides for early to complex comprehension levels designed to promote reading for meaning. The comprehension booklets provide a variety of exercises while developing new vocabulary.