The Marion School District was recently showcased for its use of the Reading Horizons literacy program, with educators from around the state invited to Marion to see how the district is utilizing the innovative curriculum.
Reading Horizons is a foundational literacy program that includes phonemic awareness, decoding (reading), encoding (spelling), and high-frequency words. Used in grade K-3, it is aligned with the science of reading and includes explicit, direct instruction of phonics, which helps students make the connections between letters and sounds and words.
Marion is currently the only district in the state utilizing the state-of-the-art program.
"We utilize Reading Horizons as the core phonics and foundational reading program, ensuring that students develop the necessary skills to become proficient readers as they advance to higher grade levels," said Mary Inman, an instructional facilitator and literacy specialist for the Marion School District. “K-2 is more learn to read, and third grade up is read to learn. So our students need to have a strong foundation in learning how to read, and this program helps them achieve that.”
Used for both whole-class and small-group instruction, Reading Horizons helps students learn the rules of the alphabetic code to become better readers and writers.
The Marion School District is an innovative and growing district that ensures an equitable, engaging learning community where every student is empowered to achieve academic excellence and personal growth. With more than 150 years of experience serving families in Crittenden County, the district offers a high school, a junior high, a seventh grade academy, and three award-winning magnet schools. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3.org/ or call 870-739-5100.