Virginia Literacy Act

For over 50 years, researchers have explored how the brain learns to read. The Science of Reading is a body of research highlighting the most effective methods and strategies for teaching children to read. The Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) uses the Science of Reading to guide instruction.

Under the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA), the Commonwealth gave school divisions different reading programs from which to select a core curriculum. We collaborated with teachers, families, and community members to carefully review all options. After thorough consideration, our committee selected Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Into Reading: Virginia as the program for our elementary schools.

• Writing
  Teachers lead students through a step-by-step writing process. Daily practice and feedback help students become better writers.
• Structured Literacy and Foundation Skills
  Students learn letter sounds, how to put sounds together to read words, and how to break sounds apart to spell words. Students learn how to spell words that have regular or unusual spelling patterns. Students in upper grades learn where words come from and how adding beginnings or endings to words can change their meaning.
• Reading & Vocabulary
  Students read books that capture their attention and teach them about the world. Students have their own workbooks where they can read, respond to reading, write down their ideas, and make connections. Teachers help students learn how to make meaning of words they don’t know. They use these new words in their writing and speaking. Expanding vocabulary increases reading comprehension across all content areas.
• Knowledge Building
  Each HMH Into Reading module is based on a different science or social studies concept. This helps students learn more about topics that interest them and helps them connect to learning they are doing in other subjects.
• Flexible Skill Groups
  Teachers provide students with one-on-one or small group teaching while other students practice taught skills. These small skills groups change daily depending on the needs of the students.

Kindergarten HMH Scope and Sequence

1st Grade HMH Scope and Sequence

2nd Grade HMH Scope and Sequence

3rd Grade HMH Scope and Sequence

4th Grade HMH Scope and Sequence

5th Grade HMH Scope and Sequence

• Reading Specialist Job Description
• Dyslexia Specialist Job Description

• New Kent Elementary School Reading Specialists: Kristy Perreault & Clarissa Kornreich (Let's Talk or 804-966-9663)
•  George W. Watkins Elementary School Reading Specialists: Brittany Kirby & Stephanie Ryan (Let's Talk or 804-966-9660)
•  Quinton Elementary School Reading Specialists: Kim Grizzle & Angela Sanders (Let's Talk or 804-557-3105) 
•  New Kent Middle School Reading Specialist: Miranda Carter (804-966-9655)
•  NKCPS Dyslexia Specialist: Shannon Bennett (804-966-9671)

For family support, visit UVA’s Virginia Literacy Partnership’s Family Resources.