October 15, 2024
State Strategies
Read On Arizona has launched a new website for educators, community partners, and families to find effective ways to help students be proficient readers and successful in school.
LitHubAZ.org is a free, searchable online tool that offers a variety of comprehensive, evidence-based resources to support the language and literacy development of children from birth to grade 12, including struggling readers, English learners, and students exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia. Literacy tools and strategies available on LitHubAZ include:
- Effective Literacy Practices — Literacy standards and proven instructional strategies to support children from early childhood through high school.
- High-Quality Instructional Materials — A tool to support LEAs in finding evidence-based core reading, intervention, and supplemental programs.
- AZ Chronic Absence Resource Guide — A framework of proven strategies to reduce chronic absence and boost school attendance.
- Dyslexia Resource Guide — Step-by-step information for families to work with schools and help their child improve their reading skills.
- Smart Talk — Easy ways for parents and caregivers of babies and toddlers to build early literacy skills.
LitHubAZ also provides information on Move On When Reading, literacy data tools, and more.
A Source for What Works
Research shows that, with the right instruction, intervention and support, 95% of all children can learn to read at grade level. But only 39% of Arizona’s third graders passed the most recent English Language Arts Assessment, which encompasses reading, language, and writing.
Improving student outcomes in Arizona requires the commitment to provide evidence-based, high-quality instruction, interventions, and supports that are proven to help children develop the language and literacy skills they need to be successful in school — literacy impacts every aspect of academic achievement across all subjects, including math and science. That’s why learning to read is a student’s most important educational challenge.
"Evidence-based reading instruction and interventions work for all students."
In partnership with the Arizona Department of Education and State Board of Education, Read On Arizona developed LitHubAZ to help increase the capacity of literacy stakeholders in our state and make information about evidence-based literacy supports for children from birth to grade 12 more accessible across the field.
“LitHubAZ is a searchable, user-friendly tool for administrators, educators, community partners, and families — everyone who plays a role in helping our children learn to read,” said Read On Arizona’s Terri Clark. “For every age and grade, there are effective ways to help kids develop foundational literacy skills and make progress toward proficiency.”
The Science of Reading
The information provided in LitHubAZ is derived from decades of research into how skilled reading develops — often referred to as “the science of reading” — and how to most effectively support children in learning to read, including a list of seminal studies compiled by the Arizona Department of Education as part of its high-quality literacy review process.
Emphasizing more than just phonics and decoding, structured literacy instruction based in the science of reading simultaneously develops comprehension, vocabulary, and background knowledge simultaneously with the development of word recognition. All the foundational skills must be woven together so that children can make meaning from the words they read.
Evidence-based reading instruction and interventions work for all students, including English learners and students exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia,” said Sean Ross, executive director of the State Board of Education. “We encourage everyone to look to LitHubAZ as a source for what works to support student achievement.”
About LitHubAZ
LitHubAZ is a free online literacy resource for everyone who plays a role in helping Arizona’s children learn to read at grade level and be successful in school. Developed by Read On Arizona, LitHubAZ is a searchable, easy-to-navigate tool for administrators, educators, community partners, and families to identify effective, developmentally-appropriate strategies to support the needs of each and every learner — including struggling readers, English learners, and students exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia — and fuel their progress toward reading proficiency. Learn more at www.LitHubAZ.org.
About Read On Arizona
Read On Arizona is our state’s early literacy initiative. Launched in 2013, partners in Read On Arizona take a collaborative approach to improving language and literacy outcomes for Arizona’s children from birth to age 8, with strategic focus on school readiness and third grade reading proficiency. Learn more at www.ReadOnArizona.org.
