For the Love of Learning and Literacy

From Grade 1 book clubs to Grade 5 genre studies, Ensworth Lower School students enjoy many opportunities to read and listen to stories every day.

Beginning in Kindergarten, our teachers utilize a strong curriculum, thoughtful resources, and a variety of tools to effectively teach students how to read. One of the newest resources available is the Lower School Resource Library—a cozy, colorful space filled with books, educational games, and reading-related activities designed to support and enhance instruction.

Located in the Lower School building, the Resource Library provides teachers with everything they need to implement the curriculum and focus on what matters most: ensuring reading success for all students. It serves as a central hub for literacy development and curriculum enhancement.

In Grades K–2, the foundation of Ensworth's literacy curriculum is a systematic and explicit approach to teaching young learners how to read.

“The new Resource Library has proven invaluable for our Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade classrooms,” said Grade 2 teacher Abbie Cowden. “It offers a convenient and efficient way to select engaging and age-appropriate books that cater to the diverse interests of our students.”

The Resource Library was designed by reading specialists Liz Atwood and Camy Sanchez. When deciding what to include, they focused on providing a wide variety of materials so teachers would feel fully supported in their classrooms. It now houses instructional resources, book club novels, and anchor texts that strengthen reading comprehension.

“When leadership approached Camy and me about building a Resource Library for our colleagues, we started planning and dreaming almost immediately,” Atwood said. “We are both passionate about offering our faculty and students the most impactful support. We spent over two weeks last summer envisioning the best ways to create a physical space to support learning, share ideas and knowledge, and provide a dedicated area for collaboration.”

Before the Resource Library existed, teachers developed and gathered their own materials. Now, they can easily grab baskets filled with manipulatives, books, and grade-level-specific activities tailored to each reading lesson.

“The library is laid out to follow the scope and sequence of the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education’s (IMSE) reading curriculum, making it very user-friendly,” said Grade 1 teacher Katie Peck. “Every week, we teach a new concept, and it’s wonderful having the resources and materials readily available to support the weekly learning targets.”

The room will continue to grow and evolve as a vital resource for teachers supporting students on their reading journeys.

“We look forward to continuing to grow and enhance the library as the Lower School literacy program evolves,” Atwood said. “Providing a wealth of resources, best-practice strategies, and the latest literature gives our teachers more time to engage with students and promotes consistency across our curriculum.”

We are deeply grateful to the families who generously funded the creation of the Resource Library. The philanthropic support of our school community enables our teachers to deliver an exceptional and distinctive educational experience to every Ensworth student.