How CEF supports literacy

It’s no secret that illiteracy is a widespread issue across the United States. Harris Williams reported that, “34% of children entering kindergarten lack the reading readiness skills they need, and 65% of fourth graders read below grade level.” In Tennessee, 21.7% of adults have low literacy. Low literacy has an impact on everyone. The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy reports it is “linked to some of today’s most pressing concerns, including economic growth, public health and safety, and civic engagement.” This is why it is more important than ever for students to build a strong foundation of reading skills. Collierville teachers recognize the building blocks of all education begin with reading, so it is no surprise they request grant materials to enhance their reading lessons year after year!

Decodable readers

Decodable readers were a prominent teacher request during our 2024-2025 grant application cycle. These tools are books specifically designed for beginners that reinforce phonics by using letter-sound patterns. Students can learn new words through repetition and recognition, not by solely guessing based on illustrations. 

Brand new decodable readers granted by CEF were a hit at both Bailey Station Elementary and Schilling Farms Elementary. Students enjoy reading thrilling stories about spies, fairytales and adventure, all with an educational lesson intertwined. When students are invested in the characters and storyline, they become engaged and want to uncover the story for themselves! These decodable readers aren’t just fun for students; they also help build up their confidence. When students feel strong in their reading, they have the courage to pick up longer or more challenging books. 

Wordless picture books

Did you know it was possible to build literacy without using words? Jennifer Conti at Schilling Farms Elementary requested wordless picture books for her class. These books help students practice literacy skills by making space for them to create their own stories. Students learn to interpret complex visual cues, as well as enhance their ability to analyze and synthesize information. This supports both critical thinking and comprehension goals.

Magnetic tiles

Another way Collierville teachers reinforce literacy skills is through hands-on experience. The Magnetic Literacy Tools project at Tara Oaks Elementary aims to provide students with magnetic tiles that include prefixes, suffixes and Greek and Latin roots. Students then learn by moving the tiles around on magnetic work boards. This process walks students through building words as they learn to read. This project reinforces critical skills, such as phonics, word recognition, and vocabulary building, that are essential to literacy.

At CEF, we proudly support child literacy, and often grant ELA materials like these for teachers to use. Teachers, our grant application for the 2025-2026 school year is now open. Click here to learn more about the process and submit a grant request of your choice!