America’s Choice developed Ramp-Up Literacy over many years, taking the time to do the job right. Almost a decade ago, we gathered the nation’s leading researchers on reading and writing to help us create the ideal course of study. We’re still at the cutting edge of the field.

Based on solid, reliable evidence from the latest research, such as the Reading Next and Writing Next reports, Ramp-Up Literacy focuses on the crucial principles for developing basic reading comprehension and higher-level literacy skills.

• Explicit instruction in comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency Comprehension is not an automatic result of reading. Striving readers need explicit instruction in comprehension strategies and in vocabulary. And they need ongoing support and practice to learn to read fluently—with speed, accuracy, and expression. For students who need it, Ramp-Up Literacy provides advanced phonics instruction, too.

• Intensive writing
  Reading and writing skills reinforce one another. Ramp-Up Literacy provides intensive, targeted, systematic writing instruction in various genres.

• Self-directed learning and motivation
  Striving readers are often disengaged learners. Ramp-Up Literacy builds their confidence with a powerful set of classroom rituals and routines that keep all students working independently and productively. The course captures their interest with reading and writing activities that use texts they can read, and assignments they enjoy in a learning environment that responds to individual needs.

• Formative assessments
  Regular classroom assessments enable teachers to track and strengthen students’ core reading and writing skills—and prepare them for success on state tests.