How Parents Can Beat the Structural Barriers That Keep Kids From Reading

Your reading level is constantly growing and improving throughout your life, but understanding the basics as a child can be rather difficult.

What Principals Are Saying About CLI

We’re just going to come right out and say it, Principals like Children’s Literacy Initiative’s impact on teachers, school culture and their own professional development.

In June 2014, CLI surveyed principals who had received CLI coaching services during the 2013-2014 school year. They were asked to reflect on the impact their work with CLI had on the teachers within their building, the overall culture of the school, and their own professional growth.

Three Ways You Can Improve Your Communication with Families

Communicating with FamiliesA new school year not only brings a new classroom of young learners into our lives, but it also introduces us to their families. These families are the most powerful allies we can have when it comes to the academic success of our students.

Effective Pre-K Instruction is a Smart Investment


…with CLI intervention, Pre-K centers are better prepared to develop the vocabulary of their students, putting them on a much brighter path for future academic achievement.

‘Sophie’s Choice’ in the Classroom


Do teachers move forward to cover the objectives associated with the standardized test for that grade? Or do they slow down and make sure their students master the material before moving ahead?

Effective Practices: Teaching Sight Words to Increase Reading Fluency


If students can read high frequency words in a snap, their reading fluency will increase…

CLI Impacts Student’s Early Reading Skills

When Luiz walked into the classroom that morning he didn’t know it was going to be the day he would read his first book. Laura, the CLI Professional Developer and Rose, the kindergarten teacher, had been working on getting the students to build their reading stamina using sight words, familiar poetry and leveled texts.

Books That Help Create a Class Community Through Read Alouds

Making students feel at home in the classroom is a top priority for teachers during the fall. Teachers create cozy reading spaces, begin to develop rituals and routines, and help students understand the value of their contributions and hard work. Conversations about families can help foster connections among students and highlight diversity.

CLI Helps Teachers Increase Student Literacy Achievement

An intensive investment providing Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) Model School services to second grade teachers in two Chicago elementary schools paid off in higher levels of student reading proficiency on the Northwest Education Association Measure of Academic Progress for Primary Grades (NWEA MPG) standardized test.

How to Help Your Child Transition From Kindergarten to First Grade

Happy 1st GraderThe transition from Kindergarten to First Grade is a big one, and may seem intimidating to parents and kids. The best thing you can do to help your new first-grader prepare for the school year is have conversations at home about what they can expect. Start out by explaining how first grade is different from Kindergarten.