For many people, learning to read is a challenge. As a library, we welcome everyone, whether you're a lifelong reader or just beginning your reading journey. As students prepare to head back to school, the Wickson Library is preparing to unveil a new grant-funded collection that aims to enhance early literacy in our community: the Lit Hub. The Lit Hub is a collection of phonics and decodable books, an assortment of parent resources, as well as a growing collection of high interest and low comprehension (Hi-Lo) books.
Rooted in the principles of Dr. Hollis Scarborough's Reading Rope and the Science of Reading, the Lit Hub initiative addresses the need for phonics instruction, a tool that is proving critical for students who missed key skills during the pandemic. The Lit Hub aims to help young and struggling readers build strong literacy foundations. And of course, it hopes to spark a love of reading for all ages.
Scarborough’s iconic Reading Rope model conveys how the different “strands” of reading are all interconnected yet independent of one another. It intertwines multiple strands of reading development, including language comprehension, and word recognition.
Central to this model is the idea that skilled reading relies on the effective integration of these strands: decoding and understanding language. Decoding involves translating written text into spoken words, which requires strong phonics skills and a familiarity with word patterns. Meanwhile, language comprehension includes the ability to understand and draw meaning from the text. Both strands are crucial and must be developed simultaneously in order to develop reading proficiency.
Decodable books allow early and struggling readers to practice the phonics skills they have learned until reading becomes automatic. Participants progress logically, from simple to more challenging materials, based on proficiency at each level. While highly beneficial for our youngest readers, the Lit Hub collection includes a range of decodable books for everyone—pre-readers, emergent readers, and older struggling readers—in both fiction and nonfiction genres.
As we approach the upcoming school year, the Wickson Library stands committed to supporting our community's educational needs both now and throughout the year. With the launch of the Lit Hub collection and other ongoing programs like the READ program and free math tutoring, we’re here to provide the resources, support, and inspiration needed for a successful academic journey.
Visit us at the library, connect with us online, or check out our back-to-school and literacy resources at the front desk—we’re here to ensure that every student, parent, and patron has the tools they need to thrive. Let’s make this school year the best one yet! Happy reading!
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