Inclusive Education in Action: How one innovative school helped English Learners Become English Fluent Through the Adoption of a simple and powerful literacy tool

Intervention

Initially introduced to Readable English at the Council for Exceptional Children Conference, Benjamin Bray saw the potential to bridge the literacy gap across various student demographics. Readable English was selected for its ability to help students decode words quickly and accurately, ensuring they could begin to comprehend grade-level material. The program offered a complete set of resources, requiring minimal additional planning, and aligned with the school's inclusion philosophy by fostering growth and proficiency.

Implementation

• Structure and Routine. Bray and his co-teacher systematically integrated Readable English into the daily classroom routines. Students consistently interacted with the program, complementing it with journaling and other related activities to enhance their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. In Bray’s class, students engaged with Readable English assignments daily, with durations ranging from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the specific instructional focus of that day’s lesson. Additionally, Bray and his co-teacher occasionally met one-on-one with students to assess their oral reading fluency and provide personalized learning paths  with specific Readable English activities to continue growth. These activities were designed to be completed independently  during other class periods or at home.

• Practical and Applicable Learning. The program's structure allowed students to master glyphs and quickly apply the mark up to their course work, boosting their reading fluency and self-confidence in a short period.

• Flexibility. The program was adapted to accommodate students joining mid-year, ensuring they received personalized support to catch up with their peers. 

Results

• Rapid Improvement. Within Within 2-3 weeks, students began showing significant growth in reading levels. The glyphs, a unique feature of Readable English, particularly benefited EL and Sped students by helping them confidently decode complex words. These results were validated by the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).

• Cultural Shift. The classroom culture underwent a significant transformation, shifting from one characterized by survival and frustration to one centered on growth and success. This change was evidenced by students reaching milestones, such as the completion of 100 journals, and the development of a growth mindset, which aligns with educational theories of motivation and achievement.

• Redesignation Success. The rapid improvement in reading along with the cultural shift in the classroom resulted in one-third of the students being reclassified from English Learner to English Fluent status, with 100% of EL students demonstrating measurable growth in reading levels. 

• Addressing Teacher Fatigue. Educators reported a reduction in fatigue attributed to the robust support and resources provided by the Readable English program. The program's design alleviated the demands of lesson planning and content creation, indicating potential enhancements in teacher well-being and instructional efficiency.

“One of the biggest challenges educators continue to face is accessibility; students struggle to demonstrate mastery of standards often because they can't access the material to begin with. The conversion tools created by Readable English provide the first essential step to breaking down that barrier. Our students can take material from any of their classes and apply the glyph system they've been taught to decode material from across other subjects.” - Benjamin Bray

Future Plans

• Expansion Across Departments. The success of Readable English has led to discussions about expanding its use beyond the English department to other subject areas, like math and science.

• Funding and Sustainability. Initially funded by the SPED department, the program's success has garnered attention from school administrators, with plans to allocate budget portions from other departments for wider implementation.

• Parent Engagement. Too often at the high school level, communication with parents revolves around behavioral issues. Now, there's excitement in sharing positive developments, such as students' fluency growth, with parents. 

• Building Partnerships with Local Schools. here are plans to collaborate with local elementary and middle schools to introduce Readable English earlier in students' educational journeys. The goal is to address literacy gaps sooner, ensuring students are better prepared before reaching high school. 

Conclusion

Readable English has proven to be an effective tool in supporting an inclusive education environment at Birmingham Charter High School. By empowering students to read confidently and independently, it addresses a critical literacy gap, improves engagement, and fosters a positive classroom culture. Moving forward, the school aims to expand the program to reach even more students and further reduce achievement disparities across demographics.

Founded in 2019, and serving school systems across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Readable English is at the forefront of inclusive educational innovation. Based in California, Readable English’s mission is to empower students to read confidently, independently, and at grade level. Using a unique system, Readable English makes the English language phonetic, significantly reducing the time required to learn to read.  This approach facilitates the connection between written and spoken language, thereby enhancing reading fluency and comprehension for learners of all abilities and backgrounds. Readable English is an evidence based program with an ESSA Rating of “Promising” and several peer-reviewed studies. For collaboration opportunities or further information, contact Readable English at: info@readablenglish.com