More than 800 pre-K through fifth-grade teachers attended HISD’s Elementary Literacy Summit on Saturday, Jan. 10 to participate in sessions on quality reading and writing instruction and hear presentations by national literacy experts. Continue reading
Tag Archives: literacy
Businesses learn about role they can play in Read Houston Read
Representatives from dozens of local businesses gathered Friday, Jan. 9 to learn how their companies could help Houston ISD first-graders learn how to read. It only takes 30 minutes per week, and volunteers can make a difference without ever leaving their desk.
Neil Bush, chairman of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and a Read Houston Read volunteer, said he plays games, including an educational version of Tic-Tac-Toe, with his assigned student, Savannah. They also go through digital flash cards and read a book each session. Continue reading
Early college plus early childhood equals innovative family literacy event
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HISD’s East Early College High School (EECHS) recently held its very first family literacy day—but it wasn’t for the benefit of its own students.
Instead, the event was designed to get some of the district’s youngest pupils interested in reading, and all students from nearby Laurenzo Early Childhood Center were invited to attend. Continue reading
Central Office department dedicates time to volunteer for Read Houston Read
The ELA secondary team was recognized by Superintendent Grier at the December Central office meeting. (Houston Independent School District)
Community members, parents, and former HISD students have signed up to read to a first-grader through HISD’s Read Houston Read campaign. Now HISD employees are also volunteering to read to a student, and one central office department is leading the charge. Continue reading
Don’t close that book just yet: Summer reading competition now has prizes
HISD’s summer reading program just got a lot more competitive.
The district’s corporate partner, myON, has announced that it will be extending students’ access to its online library through Aug. 31 and offering prizes to students who read the largest number of books and/or spend the most time reading there. HISD joined forces with the company earlier this year to expand students’ access to age-appropriate reading materials.
HISD students who place in one of the following four categories will receive a free mini home library from Capstone: Continue reading
Meet HISD’s new Literacy Director, Cindy Puryear
On June 9, Cindy Puryear became HISD’s new director of literacy. We sat down with her recently to talk about how she overcame her own reading difficulties as a young person, when she first knew she would be a teacher, and what her goals are for the first year of Literacy By 3. Following is a condensed transcript of that conversation.
Free camp helps high school students build reading, writing skills
Do you have a rising freshman or sophomore who needs to boost their reading and writing skills? HISD is hosting a free Literacy Enrichment Camp to give them tools to help increase their end-of-course exam scores.
The eight-day camp will be held at Challenge Early College High School on the HCC Southwest Campus, 5601 West Loop South, July 21-24 and July 28-31. Participating students are expected to attend both weeks. The camp will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. If transportation assistance is needed, METRO cards will be provided. Lunch will be served daily. Continue reading
HISD names literacy director
Cindy Puryear, a 33-year education veteran, started her role as Houston Independent School District’s literacy director in mid- June, but she hasn’t spent much time in her new office. Continue reading
Love of literacy brings out colorful characters
School leaders dress up as favorite book character to bring attention to importance of reading
[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000pPrhbqDlLss” g_name=”Literary-Costume-Character-Contest” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]The second day of the HISD Summer Leadership Institute attracted some colorful characters to share their love of reading, including Fancy Nancy, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Willy Wonka. Continue reading
Mayor: Read during summer to continue sharpening skills
Houston Mayor Annise Parker stopped by Blackshear Elementary on Monday to encourage students to keep reading over the summer.
“I happen to think the No. 1 reason to like to read is because it’s fun,” Parker said. “You can read about different places. You can read about things that are completely imaginary.”
Parker said teachers can tell which students read over the summer and which ones didn’t because reading skills tend to fall back when children don’t read.
Officials from Houston ISD and the Houston Public Library told students, many sporting Cat in the Hat hats, about their summer reading programs. Students can participate in both programs without having to read separate books — and can gain separate sets of incentives.