Discovery Academy of Science
Reading & Literacy at Discovery Academy of Science
Building Strong Readers, Writers, and Communicators
Reading is the foundation for success across every subject area. At Discovery Academy of Science, students develop the skills they need to read with understanding, communicate clearly, and approach increasingly complex texts with confidence.
Our literacy program combines explicit instruction, engaging texts, writing, vocabulary development, and targeted support to meet students at every stage of their growth.
Our Approach to Literacy
Strong Foundations. Confident Readers.
Effective reading instruction begins with strong foundational skills and grows into deeper comprehension, analysis, and communication.
Students receive instruction designed to build accuracy, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills while making meaningful connections across science, social studies, and other content areas. Regular assessment helps teachers identify strengths, address skill gaps, and provide targeted support or enrichment.
What STEM+R Means at DAS
Phonemic Awareness
Students learn to hear, identify, and work with the individual sounds that make up spoken words.
Phonics
Systematic, explicit instruction helps students connect sounds with letters and patterns so they can decode unfamiliar words.
Fluency
Students build the ability to read accurately, smoothly, and with appropriate expression.
Vocabulary
Students expand the words they understand and use in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Comprehension
Students learn to understand, analyze, and discuss increasingly complex texts.
Writing & Communication
Reading and writing work together to help students organize ideas and communicate clearly.
Core Literacy Resources
Grades K–5
Wonders by McGraw Hill supports elementary literacy instruction through phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, and engaging texts.
Grades 6–8
StudySync provides middle school students with rigorous reading, writing, discussion, and text-analysis experiences using both print and digital resources.
Targeted Support
i-Ready Reading supports diagnostic assessment and personalized learning to help identify and address individual skill gaps.
Personalized Digital Reading
myON provides students with access to a personalized digital library of books matched to their interests and reading level, encouraging independent reading and continued literacy growth.
Reading Practice & Progress
Accelerated Reader helps students build reading confidence through independent practice, comprehension quizzes, and progress monitoring that supports individual reading goals.
Literacy Across the Curriculum
Reading Is Part of Every Subject
Strong literacy skills support success well beyond language arts.
Students read informational text, explain their thinking, interpret evidence, build academic vocabulary, and communicate ideas across science, mathematics, social studies, and STEM+R activities.
By connecting reading and writing to meaningful subject matter, students learn to use literacy as a tool for understanding the world around them.
Supporting Every Reader
Students come to school with different strengths, experiences, and needs.
DAS uses assessment data, classroom performance, and progress monitoring to identify where students may need additional intervention or greater challenge. Teachers use targeted instruction, supplemental resources, and personalized learning opportunities to help students continue making progress.
Growing Into Independent Readers
From Learning to Read to Reading to Learn
As students progress through the grade levels, reading becomes an increasingly important tool for learning, research, problem-solving, and communication.
Our goal is for students to leave DAS as confident readers and writers who can understand complex information, express their ideas clearly, and continue learning independently.