Tag Archive for: schools

Resources for Families Learning Together at Home | Our Response to COVID-19 Closures

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Families, while you and your students are home due to many COVID-19 precautionary closures, United WE READ remains committed to our mission of “engaging, empowering, and equipping all children, families, and the Greater Kingsport community with tools and strategies that build a literacy rich culture, and a pathway to lifelong success.”

Right now, that pathway to success may take the form of online learning resources, free books for kids, and partnering with our school districts who continue to provide basic needs like breakfast and lunch. Check back here often for an ongoing, updated list of some of the best resources we can round up.

Remember, the best thing you can do to help your student during this time is to be a safe, stable, and nurturing presence in their life. And, as always, we encourage you to “#READ20 Minutes Every Day!”

Basic Needs

Educational Tools

Mental Health & Physical Well-being

United WE READ’s Two School District Partners Are Achieving Great Results!

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This week brought significant milestone announcements for both Kingsport City Schools and Sullivan County Department of Education.

United WE READ supports our educators in their daily work to achieve literacy growth for ALL students. So when the official results return and that growth is clearly showcased, we love to highlight their great, ongoing work.

This past spring, we featured the historic gains that Sullivan County Schools have made through their long-range strategy and adoption of the Core Knowledge Language Arts Curriculum (CKLA) with Dr. Robin McClellan championing those efforts. (If you missed our summary, read more here).

Just this week, they announced even further reading growth, achieving“a significant decrease in the number of students with “at-risk” levels of reading proficiency, from 37.8% of students in the fall screening to 26% in the spring screening. This means that the district has 456 fewer elementary students with an “at-risk” designation for reading.” – Dr. Robin McClellan for Kingsport Times-News

Then, with the statewide release of the TN Ready results for the 2018-2019 school year, both districts received high recognition and a combined THIRTEEN local schools were designated as Reward Schools — the highest distinction a school can earn in Tennessee. Read their announcements below to learn more!

Sullivan County Department of Education’s Announcement.
Kingsport City School District’s Announcement.

United WE READ offers our sincere congratulations to both districts on their hard-earned accomplishments. We hope this momentum continues to motivate and inspire educators as they move forward into another great school year!

It’s the support from great partners that allow us to move the needle. We are better together!


– Dr. Jeff Moorhouse, Kingsport City Schools superintendent

Thank you, Robin McClellan, for championing our students!

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United WE READ is grateful for the many educators, leaders, and community members who pour into our students each and every day. On this #InternationalWomensDay, we wanted to give a special shout-out to longtime UWR Leadership Team member and champion for students, Dr. Robin McClellan of Sullivan County Department of Education. Recently, Dr. McClellan has been leading the district through a significant investment into the reading curriculum known as CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts). Through this transition, our students are already showing significant gains! A few highlights:

  • Just from fall 2018 to winter 2019, students with “at-risk” levels of reading proficiency have fallen from 37.8% to 29.9%!
  • That means 351 fewer 1st through 5th graders are considered at-risk in their reading skills!

We can’t wait to see more from Dr. McClellan, Sullivan County Department of Education, and the CKLA curriculum renaissance! To learn more about her work, check out these websites and articles where she has contributed or been featured:

“We Have A National Reading Crisis” in Education Week –By Jaren Myracle, Brian Kingsley, & Robin McClellan

“The Outcomes Stories We Should Be Talking About” on CurriculumMatters.org

“Sullivan’s Elementary Students Show ‘Historic’ Reading Improvements” in the Bristol Herald Courier

“Sullivan County Department of Education Announces Promising Academic Progress in Elementary Reading” on Sullivank12.net

Thank you, Dr. McClellan for engaging,  empowering, and equipping, all children, families, and our Greater Kingsport community with tools and strategies that build a literacy-rich culture, and a pathway to lifelong success!

Happy #InternationalWomensDay!

Read Across America – EVERY Day!

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In celebration of Read Across America Day, United WE READ partnered this year with Roosevelt Elementary School in our local Kingsport City Schools district. We provided books and a grab-bag of items to promote our message which reminds students and families to Read 20 Minutes Every Day! All PreK through 5th grade students at Roosevelt Elementary received a new book for their personal home library and a United WE READ branded bookmark, highlighter, fridge magnet, and family brochure.

Read Across America is a celebration event begun by the National Education Association, and celebrates the birthday of beloved author, Dr. Seuss.

Check out these photos from United WE READ’s own celebration, and then read the Kingsport Times-News coverage of our event or  browse their online Read Across America gallery for more!

Thank you to Dr. Jeff Moorhouse, KCS Superintendent, and the many Roosevelt teachers and staff who planned and coordinated the event!

Read-Aloud Questions

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Did you know? It is helpful for readers of ALL ages to read aloud together with an adult! Print out these these questions to use before, during, or after your next read-aloud to enhance the experience and to learn together. #LeadingtoRead