The Colorado READ Act and the Science of Reading for Families

Families play an important role in building the foundation for reading and literacy skills. Educators partner with families to communicate and collaborate around reading development. To support this partnership, the Elementary Literacy and School Readiness Office (ELSR) at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has created a series of turnkey resources for parents, schools, and districts to build awareness of the Colorado READ Act, READ plans, and the Science of Reading.

For questions about the content included in this series, please contact READActTraining@cde.state.co.us.

Educators: For personalized support or facilitation, please contact your ELSR Regional Consultant.

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The content within these resources is continuously evolving. Adjustments are made based on feedback from districts, schools, and educators across Colorado.

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Series Topics and Resources

Each resource in the series is organized to answer four essential questions: what the topic is, why it is important, what it looks like at school, and how parents can support at home.

Click the topic title to expand each section.

READ Act Overview

Image of three students reading a book The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act), passed by the Colorado legislature in 2012, focuses on early literacy development for all students and especially for students at risk of not reading at grade level by the end of the third grade. The READ Act focuses on literacy development for students in kindergarten through third grade.

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READ Act Overview Slide Deck (PowerPoint)

READ Act Overview Slide Deck (Google Slides)

Participant Handouts:

Handout 1: Colorado READ Act Information for Parents
Handout 1 en español: Información para padres sobre la Ley READ

Science of Reading Overview

Image of child reading a book

The science of reading is built on decades of research showing how the brain learns to read—a skill we aren’t born with but can develop through strong instruction. Many states, including Colorado, have laws that focus on assessment, evidence-based reading instruction and early intervention aligned to the science of reading.

Image of Parents and a Child on Science of Reading Overview Introduction Slide

Science of Reading Slide Deck (PowerPoint)

Science of Reading Slide Deck (Google Slides)

Participant Handouts:

Handout 1: Science of Reading Overview for Parents

READ Plans

Child sitting in a reclining chair reading a book

The READ Act ensures all K-3 students are tested for reading competency, and an individual plan of intervention, called a READ plan, is developed for those who are determined to be at significant risk.

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READ Plans Slide Deck (PowerPoint)

READ Plans Slide Deck (Google Slides)

Participant Handouts:

Handout 1: Things Parents Should Ask Schools About Literacy Development
Handout 2: READ Plan Information for Parents

Oral Language and Vocabulary

Image of two children playing with cards

Oral language provides the foundation for all other literacy skills and includes listening, speaking, and vocabulary development. Vocabulary is the knowledge of words that a person understands and uses in language. Vocabulary is essential for both learning to read and understanding text.

Image of Parents and a Child on Oral Language and Vocabulary Introduction Slide

Oral Language and Vocabulary Slide Deck (PowerPoint)

Oral Language and Vocabulary Slide Deck (Google Slides)

Participant Handouts:

Handout 1: Oral Language and Vocabulary Information for Parents
Handout 2: Dinner Table Talk
Handout 3: Learning Language Every Day
Handout 4: Talking While You Read | PEER
Handout 5: QR Codes for Audio Books

Phonological Awareness

Image of students sitting on the carpet for a whole class lesson

Phonological awareness means understanding the sounds in spoken words, like whole words, syllables, and individual sounds called phonemes. Being able to hear and work with these sounds helps children learn to read and is one of the strongest signs of early reading success.

Image of Parents and a Child on Phonological Awareness Introduction Slide

Phonological Awareness Slide Deck (PowerPoint)

Phonological Awareness Slide Deck (Google Slides)

Participant Handouts:

Handout 1: Phonological Awareness Information for Parents Handout
Handout 2: Rhyme Time
Handout 3: Nursery Rhyme Time
Handout 4: Syllable Sort
Handout 5: Clap Word Parts
Handout 6: What’s the First Sound? Song & Add a Sound to Make a New Word

Phonics

Image of teacher working with a student at small group table

Phonics teaches the connection between letters and sounds, helping children learn to read by showing how written symbols match spoken sounds —an essential part of strong reading instruction.

Image of Parents and a Child as part of Series Logo

Phonics Slide Deck (PowerPoint)

Phonics Slide Deck (Google Slides)

Participant Handouts:

Handout 1: Phonics Information for Parents Handout
Handout 2: Consonant and Short Vowel Practice
Handout 3: Let’s Read Words and Sentences

Fluency

Image of a child reading a book

Fluency is the ability to read smoothly and with understanding, and it grows over time through instruction, practice, and regular oral reading.

Image of Parents and a Child on Fluency for Parents Introduction Slide

Fluency Slide Deck (PowerPoint)

Fluency Slide Deck (Google Slides)

Participant Handouts:

Handout 1: Reading Fluency for Parents Handout
Handout 2: Practice Reading Out Loud Bookmark
Handout 3: Practice Reading Out Loud with Alternated Reading Bookmark

Comprehension

Image of child reading a book

Both language and reading comprehension involve making meaning; language comprehension focuses on spoken or written language, while reading comprehension is specific to written text. To understand what is read, a reader must recognize the words and understand their meaning through language.

Image of Parents and a Child on Comprehension for Parents Introduction Slide

Comprehension Slide Deck (PowerPoint)

Comprehension Slide Deck (Google Slides)

Participant Handouts:

Handout 1: Comprehension Information for Parents Handout
Handout 2: The 5 Strands of Language Comprehension
Handout 3: Talking While You Read Tri-fold
Handout 4: QR Codes for Audio Books

Additional Resources

Web Link Disclaimer

Because of their potential interest or usefulness to the education community or the general public, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) occasionally provides links from this site to external web sites. It attempts to monitor such links on a regular basis. However, the Department cannot be responsible for the content of any site external to its own.

Further, by linking to other sites, CDE is not endorsing any particular product, practice, service, provider or institution, nor does it necessarily endorse views expressed or facts presented on these sites.

In addition, neither CDE nor any of its employees makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information linked to from this site.

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