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\u2019s Whittier Elementary. <\/p>\n
\u201cReading is the heart of education,\u201d Martin said. \u201cReading is part of life. I like learning to be fun.\u201d <\/p>\n
Leah Anderson, a literacy coach, said Martin is effective in the classroom. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh, she\u2019s fantastic,\u201d Anderson said. <\/p>\n
Khalee Hall, a third-grade student at Whittier Elementary, said Martin teaches more than reading. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe teaches us how to be kind,\u201d Hall said. <\/p>\n
Martin grew up in poverty. She said she remembers her high school chemistry teacher, who believed in her. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen somebody believes in you, you can move mountains and change the trajectory of your life,\u201d Martin said. <\/p>\n
Literacy for All Students initiative <\/p>\n
Whittier Elementary is part of SchoolSmartKC\u2019s Literacy for All Students (LFAS) initiative to strengthen early literacy across Kansas City. The program brings in literacy coaches, including Anderson. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey had a grant to fund literacy coaches,\u201d Anderson said. <\/p>\n
The program lifted students\u2019 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cTo see how much work they have to do to make this growth is just inspiring,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cThey have to overcome a lot that other communities may not have to.\u201d <\/p>\n
Families reading together <\/p>\n
Kaprishe Hall, Khalee\u2019s mother, said she saw her daughter struggle with reading. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe was very uncomfortable when she first started reading,\u201d Kaprishe Hall said. <\/p>\n
Kaprishe Hall said she and Khalee now read together every day. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a chance for parents to bond with their kids and for them to bond with their siblings,\u201d Kaprishe Hall said. <\/p>\n
Belief in students <\/p>\n
Martin said belief plays a role in the improvement. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, much power in belief,\u201d Martin said. \u201cI love them. Those are my babies. I love them. I really do love what I do.\u201d <\/p>\n
Martin said she believes her students can achieve remarkable goals when they have confidence in themselves. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou can be a lawyer. Yes, you can be a doctor. You might have to work hard to get it, but you can do that,\u201d Martin said. b<\/p>\n
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