Providing Free Decodables to Students in Grades K-2 to Support Early Literacy
Nashville, TN — Today, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), in partnership with Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), is opening up an opportunity for parents to order free at-home reading resources this winter for any of their children in grades K-2.
Through this partnership, TDOE and GELF want to encourage at-home reading practice to help young learners become stronger readers outside of the classroom. Based on if a child is in kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade, they will receive seven At-Home Decodable Book Series, which contain 20+ exciting stories full of sounds and words to practice, and age-appropriate, high-quality books from Scholastic.
All Tennessee families can order one booklet pack for each of their kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students using this site.
“We know early literacy is incredibly important and sets the foundation for a child’s education and life after graduation,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Thanks to partners like GELF, Tennessee families can easily order free books and resources to make reading fun this winter break and help their children become excellent readers.”
This launch is part of the family component of the state’s Reading 360 initiative to help boost strong reading skills amongst Tennessee students.
A decodable is a book or story carefully sequenced to include letter sounds and words familiar to readers that allow them to practice important phonics and decoding skills at their grade level. Families can read decodables at home with their children to help them sound out words and build their reading skills.
“Caregivers hold so many roles and responsibilities, and the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) is here to support families in giving their children the brightest future,” says James Pond, GELF President. “Through this partnership, we aim to strengthen early literacy by promoting a culture of reading and learning outside of the classroom. When children are on holiday break from school, we encourage families to take a break from the screens and read together with these resources. Books build learners; books bond families.”
How to Order
All Tennessee families can order one booklet pack for each of their kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students using this site. The order will be delivered to the mailing address provided.
Your order will be fulfilled in the order it was received. Please note that USPS is continuing to experience staffing shortages and delays, and your Decodables resources will arrive as soon as possible.
For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov.
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About GELF
Governor's Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) equips Tennessee's children with books and innovative literacy tools that encourage lifelong learning for a brighter future. GELF is a nonpartisan 501c3 driven by a mission to strengthen early literacy in Tennessee by acting as a thought leader, advisor, and catalyst for programs across the state. These programs include Birth-5 Book Delivery through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, K-3 Home Library, Caregiver Engagement, Book Buses, and Storybook Trails.
For more information, visit www.GovernorsFoundation.org.
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