KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Literacy rates in Missouri trail behind the national average, but one metro reading program shows progress. Carshena Martin has spent 15 years at the head of a classroom. She now teaches third grade at Kansas City’s Whittier Elementary.
“Reading is the heart of education,” Martin said. “Reading is part of life. I like learning to be fun.”
Leah Anderson, a literacy coach, said Martin is effective in the classroom.
“Oh, she’s fantastic,” Anderson said.
Khalee Hall, a third-grade student at Whittier Elementary, said Martin teaches more than reading.
“She teaches us how to be kind,” Hall said.
Martin grew up in poverty. She said she remembers her high school chemistry teacher, who believed in her.
“When somebody believes in you, you can move mountains and change the trajectory of your life,” Martin said.
Literacy for All Students initiative
Whittier Elementary is part of SchoolSmartKC’s Literacy for All Students (LFAS) initiative to strengthen early literacy across Kansas City. The program brings in literacy coaches, including Anderson.
“They had a grant to fund literacy coaches,” Anderson said.
The program lifted students’ literacy growth goal metric from 35% to 48%, within two points of the national rate. Anderson said the achievement is more impressive due to the socioeconomic status of many of these schools in the program.
“To see how much work they have to do to make this growth is just inspiring,” Anderson said. “They have to overcome a lot that other communities may not have to.”
Families reading together
Kaprishe Hall, Khalee’s mother, said she saw her daughter struggle with reading.
“She was very uncomfortable when she first started reading,” Kaprishe Hall said.
Kaprishe Hall said she and Khalee now read together every day.
“It’s a chance for parents to bond with their kids and for them to bond with their siblings,” Kaprishe Hall said.
Belief in students
Martin said belief plays a role in the improvement.
“So, much power in belief,” Martin said. “I love them. Those are my babies. I love them. I really do love what I do.”
Martin said she believes her students can achieve remarkable goals when they have confidence in themselves.
“You can be a lawyer. Yes, you can be a doctor. You might have to work hard to get it, but you can do that,” Martin said. b
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