Supporting Learners in Kindergarten-Grade 5
The Wyoming Comprehensive Language and Literacy Plan (WCLLP) recognizes the critical role of K-5 foundational skills in building both sides of Scarborough’s Reading Rope, emphasizing the integration of foundational and advanced literacy components and knowledge-building as the basis for future academic success and lifelong learning. During these formative years, students transition from learning to read to reading to learn, solidifying essential skills that underpin all academic endeavors. The Kindergarten through Grade 5 section highlights Evidence-Based Tier 1 Recommendations, Reading Science Components, Standards Alignment, Literacy Interventions, and WCLLP Goals Alignment, illustrating a cohesive approach to Wyoming’s literacy continuum. This comprehensive framework ensures that all students are supported in their journey toward literacy mastery.
Aligned and building on with the IES What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade, the WCLLP focuses on teaching K-5 academic language skills, developing phonemic awareness and letter-sound knowledge, decoding and recognizing words, and ensuring daily practice in reading connected text. By systematically addressing these foundational components, the WCLLP provides a pathway for students to achieve academic success and personal growth. Phonology, phonemic awareness, and phonics instruction establish critical early reading skills, while advanced word study enhances vocabulary and spelling through orthographic patterns and morphological awareness. Fluency instruction develops speed, accuracy, and expression through practices like repeated and guided oral reading, and explicit comprehension strategies, such as summarizing and questioning, foster deeper engagement and critical thinking. Writing instruction integrates sentence and paragraph construction across genres, reinforcing connections between reading and writing to build overall literacy.
Grounded in the Wyoming Literacy Framework, the WCLLP emphasizes evidence-based structured literacy practices, reading brain research, and the use of high-quality instructional materials and strategies. It incorporates the five pillars of literacy identified by the National Reading Panel (2000) while expanding to include writing through evidence-based recommendations and curricular resources. The WCLLP also integrates a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework and provides job-embedded professional development for literacy system leaders and educators. These combined efforts ensure that students transition successfully into middle school equipped with the foundational skills and knowledge necessary for continued academic success.
