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Empowering Young Learners to Achieve Reading Success
The Challenge: Building a Strong Foundation in Sight Words
At Fox Elementary School, many young learners are working hard to build strong reading foundations. Educational benchmarks suggest that by the end of kindergarten, children should be able to recognize at least 100 sight words, which are frequently used words that help build reading fluency. These words are essential stepping stones to reading independently and confidently.
Recognizing that some students benefit from extra time and support outside the classroom, educators and community partners came together to create an opportunity for targeted literacy growth.
The Action: Boys & Girls Clubs Launches the Speller Up Program
In March 2025, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley launched the Speller Up program at Fox Elementary. Seventy-one students participated, dedicating more than 15 hours after school to practicing sight word recognition, pronunciation, and phonics through fun and engaging activities. The program focused on boosting reading confidence and skill in a positive, supportive environment and concluded with a celebratory spelling bee showcasing the students’ hard work.
Why Early Literacy Matters
Third grade is a crucial turning point in a child’s academic journey. As one educator shared, “Third grade is when you stop learning to read and start reading to learn.” This shift marks the moment when students begin using their reading skills to engage with and understand content across all subjects.
Educational research shows that students who are not reading at grade level by the end of third grade face increased challenges in later academic years and are more likely to fall behind in other subjects. Early detection and intervention, like what the Speller Up program provides, can help ensure that every child continues progressing toward success with the tools they need to thrive.
The Result: Growth in Skills and Confidence
While reading growth takes time, measurable progress is already visible. Fourteen students mastered 5 to 10 new sight words during the program, and all participants demonstrated growth in phonics awareness and reading confidence. Many students reported feeling more comfortable reading out loud, an important milestone in literacy development.
Investing in Opportunity
This initiative was made possible in part through United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley’s Community Investment Grants, which support programs that create meaningful opportunities for youth in our community. United Way’s commitment to youth opportunity ensures that programs like Speller Up have the resources to reach children at a critical time in their educational journey. These partnerships help provide the tools, support, and encouragement needed for young people to unlock their full potential.
When students receive the support they need at the right time, the results can be transformative. Programs like Speller Up help ensure that all children have access to the foundational tools that lead to academic achievement and long-term success, in school and in life.
