Taylorville families with young children will have the opportunity to pick up fun, valuable reading materials ahead of the upcoming school vacations.  It’s happening at the Title 1 drive-thru night on Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. at North Elementary School.  Title 1 is a federally-funded program intended to help kids who are behind grade-level in reading get back on track.  The drive-thru night is a way not only to get books in kids’ hands but also to encourage parents to get involved in their kids’ learning and progress. 

Angela Browne, Christine Crane, and Tierr Thomason are among the Title 1 educators at Taylorville’s elementary schools.  They say the event will provide books along with other reading-based activities and supplies. 

Wednesday’s event is one of two the school district regularly holds as part of the Title 1 program.  The other one takes place in the spring, and that event itself is more interactive for the students. 

As for how students are referred to the program, the schools test students in various ways.  They include how well the students read the words out loud and how well they comprehend the content. 

The Title 1 educators use an approach known as “authentic learning.”  This means students are taught to apply what they read to the real world.  The goal is to show them why reading skills are important.  Parents play a key role in facilitating the authentic learning. 

More information on Title 1 is available at www.isbe.net.  More information on Taylorville CUSD #3 is available at tcusd3.org.

Angela Browne, Christine Crane, and Tierr Thomason appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show as part of our monthly Taylorville Schools Good News Segment.