Shallow Elementary’s 'Buddy Readers' pairs older and younger students to build reading and relationships

Shallow Elementary School’s literacy coach described a four‑year partnership program called Buddy Readers that pairs older and younger classrooms for the school year to strengthen reading, confidence and cross‑grade relationships.

Michelle Forte, literacy coach, told the Board the program began about four years ago to break down classroom siloes in the school and build vertical articulation across grades. Partnerships are assigned strategically — for example, to reconnect a student with a prior positive teacher relationship, to pair siblings across grades, or to provide an extra set of hands for technology activities. Teachers decide how to use partner time; many use the school’s 30‑minute daily independent reading block for partner activities.

Forte and principal Mister Cowder described benefits that include teacher connection and professional learning (staff seeing where students come from and where they are headed), increased confidence for struggling learners, and practical support for classroom management and hands‑on activities. Board members praised the model and noted that a daily, scheduled reading block can rapidly raise reading performance when implemented across classrooms.

The board received the presentation as information; there were no votes on the program.