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Reading Intervention at Valley Charter: Early Literacy Support

Reading Intervention at Valley Charter Elementary School

Helping All Students Become Confident, Capable Readers

Early, targeted support in reading sets the foundation for long-term academic success. Our reading intervention program is designed to catch students before they fall behind, building skills, confidence, and a love of reading through individualized, research-based instruction.

Why Early Reading Intervention Matters

Students who struggle with reading in the early grades are more likely to face challenges in every subject. Math, science, and social studies all depend on strong reading skills. Reading intervention provides early and strategic support to students who need foundational help, using an intervention model that tracks progress and adjusts based on student needs.

 

ladder of reading inforgraphic

 

Learn more about the importance of early reading instruction in this “Ladder of Reading” article.

 

Foundational VCES Reading Intervention Program Elements

  • Individualized Instruction Aligned with the Classroom
    Our reading intervention teacher uses the same scope and sequence as our core phonics curriculum, adjusting the pacing to fit each student’s needs which ensures consistency while personalizing instruction.

  • Strategic Scheduling
    Students are pulled from class for intervention during times that maximize learning—often for double phonics—so they don’t miss regular classroom instruction.

  • 6–8 Week Cycles for Growth
    Students receive targeted support in small groups 3–4 times a week. Progress is assessed every 6–8 weeks, with updated strategies based on student growth and needs.

  • Support for All Learners
    While English Language Learners (ELLs) are prioritized, all students are eligible.  Students are identified for reading intervention by classroom teachers based on assessment data. Students with IEPs receive separate services; the reading intervention program focuses on students who need additional support building foundational reading skills.  

  • Collaborative Teaching Approach
    The reading intervention teacher works closely with classroom teachers to ensure alignment and effectiveness. This collaboration allows classroom teachers to focus on all learners, knowing that students receiving intervention are getting the targeted help they need.

  • Interdisciplinary Vocabulary Development
    Reading intervention includes support in content areas like math, science, and social studies—ensuring students can access and understand word problems and academic vocabulary across subjects.

 

Why We Fund This Program

The funding for this program is offset by generous family and community donations. Because of our community’s generosity, we’re able to provide high-impact reading support without cutting into classroom instruction.

Supporting Reading Development at Home

Learning doesn’t stop when the school day ends. Our reading intervention teacher and classroom teachers created the following resources to give families clear, practical ways to support reading development at home. These tools are designed to be easy to use, even with a busy schedule.

 

First and Second Grade

Four ways to support reading development at home.

1. Read Aloud to Your Child

Reading to your child builds background knowledge and vocabulary that is essential for comprehension when the texts they read in school become more challenging. By reading to them you are giving them a huge head start! You can also get audio books, or try some YouTube read alouds! You can search for almost any popular kids' book and find a read aloud video.

2. Read With Your Child

  • You can offer support when they come across a tricky word.
  • You can model good fluency and expression.
  • You can share how an experienced reader thinks as they read.

Tips for making reading time enjoyable:

  • Take turns reading pages.
  • If they don’t know a word as they are reading you can encourage them to try sounding it out. It is also okay to tell them the word so the reading pace stays quick.
  • Explain any new words or concepts you think your child might not understand.
  • The goal is for this to be a fun, positive experience that builds confidence.

3. Find New Books

  • Take a trip to the library so they have a wide variety of reading material.
  • Ask your child’s teacher for recommendations.
  • If your child is reading below a level G you may have trouble finding enough books they can read independently. Focus on reading together, or reading to them. You can also ask your child’s teacher for decodable book options.
  • Find books by reading level: https://www.the-best-childrens-books.org/guided-reading-levels.html.

4. Practice Skills

Apps

 

Flash Card Games

  • Draw a game board, grab some dice and find some game pieces. Take a flash card and say the sound when you land on designated spaces.
  • You can also play a guessing game. Place a flash card on your forehead. Have your child say the sound on the card and you guess the letters.
  • Make a second copy of the cards to create a memory game, or play go fish.

3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade

Four ways to help your child develop reading skills at home.

1. Listen to Audio Books Together

Audiobooks offer a multitude of benefits for both parents and kids when enjoyed together. Listening helps build a child’s vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. They also are a way to introduce different genres or classic stories children might not choose to read independently. Another great benefit is that audiobooks can be enjoyed during activities like car rides or chores, so you can fit in reading even when you are busy! After listening, parents and kids can engage in discussions about the book together, exploring themes and characters, which can deepen their connection and understanding of the story. You can get audiobooks with a service like Audible. The kids’ website, Epic, also has great audio versions of stories. You can also get audiobooks from the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) using your library card and a free app called Libby.

2. Build Knowledge about the World

One of the best predictors of reading comprehension is having prior knowledge related to the topic and themes within a book. Watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, and visiting museums are all great ways to build knowledge which will support your child’s long term reading growth.

3. Read a Lot!

The best way to get better at reading is by reading a lot! Here are some ways to find new books:

4. Play Games!

These games are a great way to spend some time together and they have an added bonus of building vocabulary.

  • Pictionary
  • Headbanz
  • Taboo
  • Apples to Apples Junior