Darien committee reviews K-3 literacy programs after $145,000 state grant and teacher pilots

Darien Board of Education Curriculum Committee members and elementary teachers met Jan. 8 to review K-3 literacy programming, including how the district spent a $145,000 Right to Read grant and classroom experience with new vocabulary and writing materials.

Committee members heard that the district spent the entire Right to Read grant by December on state‑approved curriculum materials, purchasing foundational decodables for K–2 (and some third‑grade) classrooms, and funding AIMSweb for two years and a district digital platform. Julie (district curriculum staff) said the grant funds were used only for materials on the state-approved list and that a leadership team completed required professional learning days.

The meeting focused on three related areas: vocabulary instruction, early phonics screening and assessment, and writing curriculum. Teachers described Word Love, a new vocabulary program implemented this year, as explicit, multisensory and engaging. "Word Love is an absolutely incredible program," said Hillary Rek, a first‑grade teacher at Holmes, adding that students use the vocabulary in…