Cultivating Strong Literacy Skills in Every Subject

New Jersey’s leaders have sprung into action to address the current literacy crisis. In spring 2024, assessments found 44% of the state’s third-grade students met or exceeded their English Language Arts expectations.

Solutions recently implemented include twice-yearly screening for students in kindergarten through third grade, with a third annual screening recommended. This strategy is particularly useful for teachers because it provides data that pinpoints where individual students are facing challenges. These screenings also incorporate families by giving parents and guardians a copy of the student’s score and showing how it compares to grade averages.

In addition to the screenings, New Jersey legislators created the Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery (LEAR) to ensure these literacy initiatives are supported and followed through. LEAR executes this through its six goals:

1. Collect and analyze data to inform decision-making.
2. Coordinate resources.
3. Research best practices.
4. Provide school districts support.
5. Develop resources to support teaching and learning.
6. Oversee the Working Group on Student Literacy.

New Jersey isn’t alone. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted learning for all students, and literacy rates highlight that trend. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress, fourth and eighth-graders scored an average of five points lower on reading than students who tested before the pandemic. Likewise, Chalkbeat Newark reported that 51.6% of Newark Public Schools’ third graders met state reading standards, with that rate dropping to 36.9% in 2023.

Educators are faced with a challenge. However, it’s one that they can transform into something creative, engaging and fun for their students. There are many strategies, resources and games teachers of all subjects can employ to help boost literacy rates for students.

Strategies to incorporate

Cross-curricular literacy studies further enhance students’ academic foundation and support critical thinking in other high-level subjects like scientific analysis and complex mathematical equations. And the best part? Educators don’t need to be literacy experts to communicate important skills and strategies to their students. 
The strategies listed below can be implemented into any subject, seamlessly integrating literacy without missing a beat. 

Annotate texts with students

Annotating while reading helps the reader better absorb the text and understand the topic on a deeper level. When students pause to ponder a passage, as opposed to racing through it, critical thinking skills are further developed. These skills are necessary for students to process information and make connections on a higher level. 
 

Plan lessons around vocabulary words

Every subject has unique terms associated with it, which presents a great opportunity for educators to introduce vocabulary words to students in various contexts. Building students’ vocabulary across subjects improves their relationship with phonics, language fluency and reading comprehension, making it an important part of every subject. 
 

Free writing

Writing can help students organize their thoughts, which takes subject comprehension further. By digesting the lesson through writing prompts, the key concepts are strengthened, and students have the time and space to process on a nuanced level. Free writing is also not disruptive to ongoing lessons, as just a couple of 15-minute writing breaks a week is enough to build those connections. 
 

Get competitive

Everyone loves to win a prize, so incorporate rewards for literacy-based achievements. This is an opportunity to get creative and even give students agency to build a positive relationship with literacy. For example, one reward could be going off-book during free writing. While their peers are writing about the lesson, offer a reward that allows students to choose their own topic during free writing. The opportunity for agency fosters excitement while enforcing literary skill-building. 
 

Introduce quiet reading time

Speaking of giving students agency, quiet reading time can also serve as a reward or activity to look forward to. Allow students to choose their own books, within appropriate limitations, of course, and set a day on the calendar each week or month. As a bonus, incorporate 10 minutes of free discussion, where students can share with their peers what they enjoy about their book. 
 

Invite an author to the classroom

With self-publishing becoming an easier process, there are more authors than ever. Take advantage of the large author pool and invite a writer to the classroom as a guest, whether that’s virtually or in person. Find an author with a book that is easily connected to the subject, and have them share the process—from gathering research, to outlining the text, filling it all in and preparing for launch. Maybe the visit will even help students see an author in themselves. 
 

Play games with mnemonic devices

Mnemonic devices help prompt memory by using rhymes, acronyms and other strategies to unlock the brain’s natural ability to recall information. An example of this is “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally”—or PEMDAS—to remember the order of calculations, which are parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition and subtraction. These literacy tricks help with memorization and introduce language in a new setting. 
 

START

START is a planning strategy that educators can utilize to develop core literacy skills, no matter the subject. The acronym has five key steps:

Standards
Starting with content standards helps educators map out lessons and integrate literacy efforts while keeping a focus on core subjects.
 

Texts
Use texts that align with learning targets and can supplement textbook readings. 
 

Assessment
Assessments inform educators where students stand with comprehension and where they need additional support.
 

Reading and literacy skills 
Target literacy in lessons by incorporating reading, writing, speaking, listening and other language skills that naturally support the lesson. 
 

Tools
Instructional tools and strategies help support everything put in place, guiding and supplementing the lesson, giving students a well-rounded literacy experience.

Resources to boost literacy in the classroom

Educators know resources are valuable because they introduce new ideas, engaging concepts and make the classroom experience one filled with curiosity and discovery. The resources featured below help educators bridge literacy gaps and build confidence in students.

6 Techniques for Building Reading Skills—in Any Subject

This Eduptoia article introduces six cross-subject literacy techniques that educators of all grades can seamlessly integrate into lesson planning. The article highlights creative ways to approach literacy, including an option to appeal to students’ senses.

10 Mnemonics That Can Help You Remember Anything

This VeryWell article lists mnemonic examples that are easily incorporated into lessons. Grouping information, or ‘chunking,’ is one, as well as music, acrostics and more.

From Plan to Practice: Enhancing Literacy Through a Five-Step Continuous Improvement Cycle

The Institute of Education Sciences put together this article, which leverages the improvement cycle to enhance student literacy. The five steps are clear and actionable, plus they incorporate data to track improvements and identify student needs.

Learning Equity and Academic Recovery (LEAR)

The aforementioned LEAR connects educators with various resources, including research studies, books, articles, practice materials, webinars, online courses, websites and videos that all support cross-disciplinary literacy initiatives. The list is regularly updated, so New Jersey educators can check back year to year.

Reading Rockets

This Reading Rockets article outlines what it takes to build a literacy-rich environment for students. This includes classroom materials, classroom design, evidence of effectiveness, plus additional materials and training to explore outside resources.

If you’re considering following your dream of teaching, Rutgers Alternate Route can offer you the support and training you need to succeed. Be sure to follow Rutgers Alternate Route on Twitter and sign up for Alternate Route’s monthly newsletter for more information and stories from the field of education.