Structured Literacy, Real Results: Our Grades K–2 Breakthrough

When our district made the decision in spring 2024 to adopt Magnetic Foundations for Grades K–2, I knew it would be transformative. We had never had a true, cohesive structured literacy program before, and this was our opportunity to build something meaningful—not just for our youngest Grades K–2 students, but for our teachers, too.

Starting with Curiosity and Clarity

Our goal was to move away from our guided reading program, a small group instructional approach where teachers group students with similar reading levels, because it wasn’t providing the structured literacy foundational skills our students needed to learn how to read. It was time to raise the bar and provide Tier 1 instruction to all our students to improve our literacy rates. 

Before we rolled out Magnetic Foundations, I wanted teachers to see it in action, so I selected lessons that aligned with our scope and sequence and taught them myself in classrooms across different schools. Teachers observed, we recorded as many sessions as possible, and the excitement started to build. It wasn’t just about showcasing a new curriculum; it was about building momentum and identifying challenges in our implementation plan. 

Professional Learning That Mattered

That summer, we dedicated half a day of professional learning to the new curriculum to get teachers on board. We started with the big picture: What is Magnetic Foundations? How is it structured? How does structured literacy work? Then we dove into real classroom footage—two teachers, one lesson, different components. With lesson plans in hand, teachers watched, discussed, and practiced. It wasn’t perfect, but it gave everyone a clear vision before day one with students.

Addressing the Shift to Structured Literacy with Intention

My team and I also knew we had to tackle the shift to structured literacy, a research-based approach to reading instruction that is explicit, systematic, and cumulative, designed to help all students develop strong foundational literacy skills, head-on. We hosted “The Great Debate,” where half the school leaders had to defend structured literacy versus guided reading. I gave both sides a ton of research beforehand, but the goal was for them to be able to address questions from teachers like, “Why aren't we doing guided reading anymore?” By the end, everyone had the language and rationale to support the change to structured literacy. That clarity about structured literacy trickled down to teachers and helped ease the transition.

Data That Drives Structured Literacy Instruction

Our rollout of structured literacy was anchored in data. After midyear assessments, we identified target students and coached teachers to check in with them during whole group instruction. This was a major mindset shift: Tier 1 became the bar. That shift was intentional—and it worked.

Subscribe to Our Blog

Building Community, One Quarter at a Time

While informal teacher communities didn’t emerge organically, our “One Team, One Sound” quarterly professional learning sessions created space for grade-level collaboration. These sessions became the platform for rolling out new quarterly focuses and sharing what was working.

Throughout the year, I sent out regular email blasts with best practices, trends, and coaching prompts to all our educators using the program. Early on, these were frequent, but by year’s end, they were monthly or quarterly. Leaders appreciated having real-time tools to support their teams.

How Structured Literacy Transformed Our Grades K–2 Results

There was some skepticism at first, like, “here goes another change we're being asked to make,” but we were well prepared to address the mindset piece.

Today, the response from teachers has been overwhelmingly positive. Those who were here before are especially relieved because Magnetic Foundations delivered structured literacy that is clear, organized, and it really works. In just one academic year, our early reader proficiency placements in mid or above grade level grew by 49 percentage points in Grade K, 38 percentage points in Grade 1, and 25 percentage points in Grade 2. I’ve never seen a curriculum that has been so well received. Leaders are just as excited—especially seeing Grades K–2 instruction finally getting the attention it deserves. In fact, we're all obsessed with Magnetic Foundations.  

Still Growing, Still Learning

We’re not done but we’re in a groove now. With strong routines, clear expectations, and a shared commitment to growth, we’re building something sustainable and powerful. And I can’t wait to see where it takes us. 

Subscribe to our blog!

Want more from Sabine? Read about KIPP’s transition to Magnetic Foundations in the KIPP success story.

Other literacy resources for you:

Where Do We Go from Here? Unpacking the NAEP Reading Scores
The Science of Reading in Focus
The Importance of Foundational Literacy