Across the nation, and here in southern Arizona, how schools teach reading is in the news. At Catalina Foothills School District, we don’t chase trends; we invest in evidence. Teaching reading isn’t something we “pick up” naturally; it’s a science. That’s why Catalina Foothills School District uses Wonders (K–5), an evidence-based, Science of Reading–aligned curriculum designed to help every child become a confident reader. (This week, KOLD News 13 covered Arizona’s reading challenge and highlighted how schools like CFSD are responding—read the story here: https://www.kold.com/2025/09/09/southern-az-students-struggling-read/)

Why Wonders?

• Explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension
• Decodable texts and rich read-alouds that build accuracy, confidence, and knowledge
• Small-group lessons & interventions so teachers can target what each learner needs
• Built-in assessments to catch gaps early and celebrate growth
• Support for multilingual learners and writing connections that strengthen language

Why this matters

Older “whole language” approaches reliably reached about 40% of students, while Science of Reading–aligned methods can help up to ~95% learn to read. In CFSD, more than 70% of students are reading at or above grade level (AZ Report Card). While many factors influence literacy, our teachers tell us a strong, evidence-based curriculum makes a real difference.

“I strongly believe that curriculum is a big deal and a big factor in this,” she said. “That makes a teacher want to stay and keep teaching when they have the tools to feel confident.”
— Randi Fischer, 3rd Grade Teacher, Sunrise Drive Elementary

How families can help at home

• Read together daily (even 10–15 minutes helps)
• Ask sound-it-out and “What makes sense here?” questions
• Celebrate effort and progress—reading grows with practice!

We’re proud of our students, grateful for our families, and inspired by our teachers who make reading come alive every day. Have questions about Wonders or how we teach reading in CFSD? Please reach out to your school’s principal or reading specialist. Together, we’re building lifelong readers.