COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 73

April 2, 2004

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Put Reading First Instructional Strategies Videotapes Supporting the Five Components of Reading Instruction

The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to provide school divisions with videotapes illustrating classroom instruction as recommended in the booklet Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read Kindergarten through Grade 3. These videotapes on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension highlight the application of key components of quality literacy instruction in the classroom.

The purpose of the Put Reading First Instructional Strategies videotapes is to enhance elementary school teachers content knowledge and use of appropriate instructional strategies for teaching reading in kindergarten through grade 3.

In May, the Put Reading First videotapes, viewing guide, and a copy of this memo will be mailed directly to the assistant superintendent of instruction of each school division and to each college and university providing teacher preparation courses. For additional information, please contact Barbara F. Jones (bjones@mail.vak12ed.edu), specialist for reading and English, at (804) 786-1997.

JLD/BFJ/vdg