Growing Readers

Investing in teachers to improve outcomes for readers



Empower teachers with knowledge, skills, and confidence for teaching reading.

Increase the number of children reading proficiently.

Provide high-quality professional learning through offsite training and onsite coaching and support.

1 / 25

The Growing Readers Initiative has positively impacted my teaching by helping me see the ways conferring with students helps their reading instruction and confidence.

Stephanie

Maxwell, McDuffie, CSRA RESA

2 / 25

The Growing Readers initiative has challenged me to look at my readers in a totally different light. I enjoy focusing on one student and one strategy with one goal in mind.

Ashley

Maxwell, McDuffie, CSRA RESA

3 / 25

I feel more confident as a teacher to encourage students to read and find books that are the best fit for them

Victoria

Social Circle Primary, Social Circle, Northeast GA RESA

4 / 25

Having a large spread of different reading levels in my class, I was struggling to meet with everyone as often as I wanted to. However, after learning about strategy groups I'm feeling more confident meeting with my students based on their strategy and not their reading level.

Amber

Social Circle Primary, Social Circle, Northeast GA RESA

5 / 25

Growing Readers has been the most comprehensive and beneficial training that I have ever had. I was taught the best strategies to use with my students…. Then…I was sent back to my classroom to implement and I was coached through the process and given help as needed.

April

Chicopee Woods Elementary, Hall County Schools, Pioneer RESA

6 / 25

Growing Readers helped me learn to love the art of teaching reading.

Kala

Chicopee Woods Elementary, Hall County Schools, Pioneer RESA

7 / 25

You MADE our teachers feel empowered to choose growth over comfort. Being able to see our GR teachers collaborating with their colleagues in assessing, instructing, and GROWING our readers is heartwarming.

Cindy

Chicopee Woods Elementary, Hall County Schools, Pioneer RESA

7 / 25

You MADE our teachers feel empowered to choose growth over comfort. Being able to see our GR teachers collaborating with their colleagues in assessing, instructing, and GROWING our readers is heartwarming.

Cindy

Chicopee Woods Elementary, Hall County Schools, Pioneer RESA

8 / 25

The Growing Readers program has allowed me to read one-on-one with my students and individualize their instruction based on their specific reading needs.

Heather

Folkston Elementary, Charlton County, Okefenokee RESA

9 / 25

I have seen such an improvement in reading due to Growing Readers. The strategies have been a lifesaver, and they help me target skills for my students.

Porsha

Dearing, McDuffie, CSRA RESA

10 / 25

As for my readers, I feel like this helps them build their self-confidence and make them stronger readers because they have a strategy that helps with comprehension, stamina, engagement, fluency, and accuracy.

Tonya

Thomson, McDuffie, CSRA RESA

11 / 25

As I look back over my experience with Growing Readers from beginning to end…I started as a student who needed ALL the scaffolding and was insecure and lacked confidence. Throughout the process I have noticed that I have needed less and less support and now at the end I am feeling confident and independent moving forward.

Jennifer

Harmony Elementary School, Pickens County, North Ga RESA

12 / 25

My candidate has been a tremendous help as we have implemented Growing Readers. We have had wonderful conversations about the importance of independent reading time, the value of conferring, and truly knowing our students.

Kelly

Northside, Polk, NWGa RESA

13 / 25

My students have flourished since implementing Growing Readers. I have seen reluctant readers grow in their ability and confidence.

Krushinda

Young's Grove, Polk, NWGa RESA

14 / 25

I am beyond thankful and fortunate to have worked with such a great team!

Nicole

Northside, Polk, NWGa RESA

15 / 25

My candidate has been a tremendous help as we have implemented Growing Readers. We have had wonderful conversations about the importance of independent reading time, the value of conferring, and truly knowing our students.

Kelly

Northside, Polk, NWGa RESA

16 / 25

I had a student tell me today, "I used to not like reading but now I love it." That warmed my heart. Thank you so much for bringing Growing Readers to us.

Kim

Unity, Meriwether, West GA RESA

17 / 25

My candidate has been a tremendous help as we have implemented Growing Readers. We have had wonderful conversations about the importance of independent reading time, the value of conferring, and truly knowing our students.

Kelly

Northside, Polk, NWGa RESA

18 / 25

With the help of Growing Readers, I have learned how to provide meaningful feedback to my students which steers their focus while reading a book.

Kristin

Reidsville ES, Tattnall, First District

19 / 25

Growing Readers has taught me the importance of independent reading and has taught me how to consistently guide students in the right direction.

Mallory

Reidsville ES, Tattnall, First District

20 / 25

My candidate has been a tremendous help as we have implemented Growing Readers. We have had wonderful conversations about the importance of independent reading time, the value of conferring, and truly knowing our students.

Kelly

Northside, Polk, NWGa RESA

21 / 25

I like how Growing Readers has taught my students how to decide that the book they may have chosen is either too easy or too hard for them. They feel successful because they are able to read their book and understand what they've read.

Laura

Lyman Hall ES, Liberty, First District

22 / 25

I have learned a lot from the in person modeling and coaching with my RESA Specialist and candidate. My RESA Specialist has helped me truly enjoy independent reading, whereas before I did not really know what to do.

Holly

Lavonia, Franklin, Pioneer Resa

23 / 25

Growing Readers has helped me better understand and meet my students' needs. Being able to determine their goals and then teach strategies to help reach those goals has been the biggest take away for me. This really is the right work!

Casey

Royston, Franklin, Pioneer Resa

24 / 25

I want to express my gratitude for being able to be part of Growing Readers these past 2 years. Now I have a wonderful classroom library and endless strategies to help my students become "Super" readers.

Jolee

Wilkinson Gardens, Richmond, CSRA RESA

25 / 25

Growing Readers has given my students more confidence in reading. It has also given me as a classroom teacher, the opportunity to use valuable strategies that I did not use in the past.

Melanie

Wilkinson Gardens, Richmond, CSRA RESA



Growing Readers is a kindergarten through third grade professional learning opportunity that provides consistent and high-quality professional learning to teachers on effective reading instruction. The program aims to support teachers in increasing the number of children reading at grade level by the end of third grade.


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