Balancing Joy and Rigor: How SRV’s Literacy Approach Defies the National Decline

A Research-Grounded Approach

The national conversation about literacy has shifted toward the “science of reading,” an evidence-based movement focused on clear, explicit teaching of phonics and foundational language skills. Research has shown that students make the greatest gains when foundational skills such as decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension develop together.

At SRV, we ground our work in this research while also honoring what decades of progressive education have shown us about how children learn best: through play, discovery, and purposeful connection. Our literacy instruction is systematic and structured, but always rooted in curiosity, play, and discovery. We want children to learn how to read and also why reading matters.

A Journey That Builds Over Time

From Preschool through Oldest Group, literacy instruction at SRV follows a carefully sequenced progression:

• In Preschool and Kindergarten, children develop oral language, listening, and sound awareness while connecting print to meaning.
• In Primary and Middle Circles, they build fluency and comprehension through the study of phonics, morphology, vocabulary, and purposeful reading and writing.
• In the Oldest Group, they deepen their understanding of language and explore longer, more complex texts and compositions.

Each stage intentionally builds on the one before it. Families often ask why our youngest learners are not spending time on worksheets or drills, and that is by design. In these early years, children are developing the oral language, curiosity, and confidence that form the foundation for lifelong literacy. Through authentic conversation, storytelling, and play, they build the skills that make formal reading and writing both natural and meaningful. The full strength of our program comes into view when children experience the complete arc, from playful exploration to sophisticated comprehension and expressive writing. As they move through each stage, the layers of learning deepen and connect. By the time students reach the Oldest Group, they are not only reading independently, but also thinking critically about what they read, making connections, and expressing their ideas with clarity and insight.