Dr. Seuss once said, “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.”
My name is Laiken Mann and I am an administrator and advocate for the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI). Many of you may be wondering what exactly ARI consists of, and I am just the person to answer that question.
The Alabama Reading Initiative is unique in that it is not simply a program. It is a continuous professional development opportunity for a school staff. It is a training program for teachers (based off of research) that shows them how to reach high levels of literacy for all of their students. In order to be successful with all students (even those who are struggling readers), ARI empowers teachers with necessary content knowledge, skills, and strategies. ARI currently provides differentiated levels of support, including professional development, onsite support, and school literacy coaches, to over 1,000 schools. The statewide plan will help parents, caregivers, community agencies, schools, local education agencies, the state education agency, and all applicable state agencies identify elements that support literacy and work together to strengthen those elements.
The goal? The future of the students. As an administrator, my goal aligns with that of the Alabama Reading Initiative in that I want all students to be able to read at or above their grade level. The official goal of ARI is as follows: to significantly improve reading instruction and ultimately achieve 100% literacy among public school students.
What do you think about ARI? Is it worth it? Does it work? Please feel free to comment or make suggestions. Have a great day, and never stop reading!
Sources:
Alabama State Department of Education. (n.d.). ARI Information: History and Information. Retrieved from http://www.alsde.edu/sec/ari/Pages/home.aspx
Education Station 