Posted on February 4, 2021

For renewed support of program improvements of Early Reading Matters (“ERM”), their outcomes-oriented professional learning program for teachers to develop early reading instructional expertise critical for improving student literacy in grades K-2 in high-poverty area NYC schools. Last year they piloted a revised approach to the program in order to accelerate reading gains in Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms. While there were impressive gains in Kindergarten, the gains in First Grade were not as dramatic. This year they will focus on First Grade, making additional program adjustments to increase the quality and pace of instruction in order to boost gains in student proficiency, with the ultimate goal of better preparing these youngsters for Second Grade and beyond. However, in March 2020, as a result of their COVID-19 response, the organization temporarily shifted program focus away from ERM to develop K-2 curriculum to support the New York City Department of Education transition to remote instruction. The pivot resulted in the creation of seven weeks of customizable content, which was available nationwide for free. Teaching Matters is a nationally recognized professional learning organization dedicated to increasing teacher effectiveness, one of the most critical factors regarding student success.