At Roots and Wings, we believe that literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning and success. Project UpLift embodies this belief by providing struggling young readers with the tools, guidance, and confidence they need to thrive. Through this transformative, free, after-school program, we support students in grades 1-3 who are reading one or two grades below grade level, helping them make significant strides in their reading abilities and academic confidence.
With personalized instruction led by dedicated, certified teachers from their own schools, students in Project UpLift benefit from small-group settings that foster learning in a fun way. Each school has a Literacy Coordinator who creates lesson plans that are individuated by need and works with the teachers to ensure student success. In these safe, nurturing environments, children are not just improving their reading skills – they’re discovering a love for learning and the belief that they can achieve greatness.
Project UpLift offers a lifeline to children at a critical juncture in their education. Without the ability to read proficiently by the end of third grade, many children face significant academic challenges. Project UpLift aims to ensure that every Project Uplift student has the support they need to succeed.
The results speak for themselves – every year Project UpLift students demonstrate measurable reading gains. Even more compelling, although our third-grade students begin the year among the bottom 25% of their class in reading, by the end of the year, they are promoted to fourth grade at the same rate as their peers. This is a testament to the power of focused remedial support provided in a small-group setting by a teacher who knows the students best. But beyond the numbers, it’s the stories of transformation that drive us – stories of children who once struggled with words but now walk into class with newfound confidence and joy.
Project UpLift isn’t just about academic success; it’s about building academic confidence and promoting the joy of learning. With the unwavering support of teachers, parents, and the community, we are creating a brighter future for our students.
By investing in early literacy, we are lifting up children, schools, and communities – one word, one page, one book at a time.
