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District updates HMH reading curriculum; adds AI tools, elementary guiding coalitions remain volunteer
Summary
District staff reported an update to HMH reading materials (version 3) that consolidates teacher manuals and adds AI tools (Classcraft and Amira) to support structured literacy and individualized student practice; elementary guiding coalitions will be volunteer roles without extra pay.
The district told the board it upgraded its Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) reading materials to version 3, consolidating teacher manuals and aligning structured-literacy content with Act 20 requirements. The district also added Classcraft and an AI reading coach called Amira to support student practice and provide immediate feedback on decoding and comprehension.
Why it matters: The curricular update is intended to support teachers and give students immediate, individualized feedback that targets decoding and comprehension skills tied to the state's structured-literacy expectations.
Curriculum details: The Director of Curriculum and Instruction said the new HMH version condenses teacher manuals into a single guide and updates structured-literacy components. Classcraft will provide teacher tools for worksheets aligned to the curriculum. Amira is an AI-driven reading assistant that listens as students read, provides corrective feedback, and directs students to targeted practice when decoding errors recur.
Elementary guiding coalitions: District staff said elementary guiding coalitions were created as volunteer leadership teams (teachers and aides across grade levels) to support implementation; participants will not receive extra pay. Staff solicited volunteers via a Google form and reported positive recruitment across grade levels.
Implementation: The elementary rollout and staff training were scheduled to begin the week after the meeting, aligned with benchmark screening and shared professional learning time. Administration said training would accompany the rollout so teachers would not be left to implement changes without support.
Next steps: District staff will monitor benchmarks and teacher feedback as the new HMH materials and AI tools are deployed.
