Maybe you remember when you entered first grade, and your first reading primer. Chances are it featured Dick, Jane, Sally, and their dog, Spot. You might not have recognized it at the time, but the books used repetition so students could soon identify words. For some students, the method worked wonderfully; for others, not so much.

The Vertical Alignment program is showing great promise.

At St. Labre Elementary, a new approach is being introduced called Vertical Alignment. According to LaCee Small, elementary principal, there is collaboration and teamwork involved in this program. There are math teams, literacy and remedial, and so forth.

In grades 1–4, pre-tests are given to group the students according to their skill levels, meaning where they need the most assistance. One test measures how quickly a student can get a word on the paper once it is introduced to her. The program is designed to help students advance more quickly in word recognition. The program is designed to help students advance more quickly in word recognition. As their skill levels improve, they find that they are putting together phrases and sentences more quickly and in sequence.

Along the way, vocabulary is introduced as well. And often, this is difficult, particularly students who begin school with low-level vocabulary. However, as with other types of reading programs, practice and repetition lead to understanding of words the student has found unfamiliar.

According to Mrs. Small, the kids like working in teams and are excited when they master new words that they can incorporate into phrases and sentences.

So far, the students are beginning to catch on and are enjoying the process.

The Vertical Alignment program is showing great promise.