We are very excited to welcome you to the Pinebrook Literacy page! It is our goal to service our students, staff, and community in providing quality reading instruction throughout the school year.

The primary responsibilities of the reading specialist are to coordinate the school’s literacy program and to help find a way of reaching low-achieving students. As reading resource teachers, we work with small groups of students, differentiating instruction based on their literacy needs. Our focus for instruction consists of evidence-based practices that align with the science of reading and the five pillars of literacy: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

In addition, we support classroom teachers and families so that we may collaboratively provide quality reading and writing instruction. Students are taught to develop skills and strategies so that they may become independent readers and writers. It is our hope that the work we do helps each student become a successful, lifelong reader.

The Reading League works with school systems across the country to ensure all educators have the knowledge and skills they need to reach every student with reading instruction that works.

• Under the Resources tab, parents will find resources (YouTube channels, recommended reading, podcasts, etc.) to strengthen their understanding of the Science of Reading and evidence-based instruction. 

• The Virginia Reading League has specific state resources that provide additional information and learning.

What is VALLS?

VALLS is the Virginia Language and Literacy Screener for students in Kindergarten through Grade 3. VALLS has replaced our previous literacy screener called PALS. 

This school year (2023-2024) all Kindergarten through Grade 2 students are soft launching the VALLS screener. During the 2024-2025 school year, the VALLS literacy screen will be required for all students in Kindergarten through Grade 3 across the state of Virginia. 

Students participate in the VALLS screener three times per year:

• Beginning of Year -- September/October

• Mid-Year -- January/February

• End of Year -- April/May

After the completion of the screener, students are provided with a band of risk category. The band of risk indicates the student's risk of developing a reading difficulty. There are three bands of risk: high, moderate, and low. The data collected from the VALLS screener will also help your child's teacher determine areas of strength and areas that may need more instruction.