The air in Ms. Mancuso’s first-grade classroom at Parkway Elementary School in East Meadow wasn’t just filled with the typical morning energy; it was filled with the sound of “the code” being cracked.
Students were seated at the carpet, eyes bright, reading the vowel teams: /oo/, /ou/, and /ow/. This scene served as the backdrop for a very special guest: Susan Lambert, the renowned literacy expert and host of the “Science of Reading: The Podcast.” Lambert visited East Meadow this week to see firsthand how the district is translating the latest cognitive science into classroom success through the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) curriculum.
The focus of the visit was the Skills strand of CKLA. In Ms. Mancuso’s room, the Skills strand was in full swing. This foundational component of the curriculum focuses on the mechanics of reading: phonics, spelling, and decoding. In addition to memorizing words, students were learning the logic behind them. The room was alive with colorful anchor charts lining the walls, serving as references for complex sounds.
“It is incredible to see our first graders engaged so deeply with syntax building exercises,” said Frank Lukasik, the district’s director of literacy and funded programs. During the lesson, students moved beyond simple sounds to construct sentences, demonstrating an understanding of how words function together to create meaning.
As students navigated these complex vowel teams, Mr. Lukasik reflected on the district's shift in instruction. “By providing systematic, explicit phonics instruction, we are giving students a sense of agency,” Mr. Lukasik said. “You can see the confidence on their faces; they aren't guessing; they are learning.”
While the CKLA curriculum provides the roadmap, Ms. Mancuso is the expert driver. She was thoughtful and intentional as she moved between whole-group instruction and individual support, ensuring that every learner was met with what they needed.
The visit from Susan Lambert highlights East Meadow's position at the forefront of the national literacy conversation. The district is committed to ensuring that its students learn the necessary reading skills. By investing in evidence-based practices today, the district aims to ensure that students have the keys to unlock every door their future holds.
Photo caption: Susan Lambert, the renowned literacy expert and host of the “Science of Reading: The Podcast,” right, recently visited Ms. Mancuso’s first-grade classroom at Parkway Elementary School in East Meadow to observe her CKLA curriculum.
Photo courtesy of the East Meadow Union Free School District