Science of Reading in Practice: A Teacher's Success Story with Reading Eggs!

For Lisa Silva, a Kindergarten teacher at Kula Elementary School in Hawaii, watching young learners develop strong foundational reading skills is more than just a job — it's a passion.

After discovering our online reading program for schools in 2016, Silva has witnessed firsthand how Reading Eggs' systematic approach to literacy instruction transforms early readers into confident learners.

A champion for evidence-based learning

When Silva transferred to Kula Elementary, she immediately recognized an opportunity to introduce her new colleagues to the program that had enriched her teaching.

"I shared it with them and said, 'go ahead and get that free trial and give it a try!'," Silva recalls.

Her enthusiasm proved contagious — after experiencing the program themselves, her colleagues were equally impressed and eager to bring Reading Eggs to their students.

Watch as Lisa shares her expert review and learn how the program supports crucial elements of early literacy development through systematic instruction:

Aligned with the Science of Reading

What initially drew Silva to Reading Eggs was its strong alignment with evidence-based literacy instruction.

The program's systematic approach to phonics and decoding perfectly complements the classroom curriculum while emphasizing crucial foundational skills.

"The importance of having students understand their sounds to get them to be able to read is so crucial," Silva explains. "If they can decode, they can read anything and then if they can decode, they can spell and if they can spell, then they can write — they all just really go hand-in-hand together."

Reading Eggs' structured progression from sounds to reading comprehension reflects core principles of the Science of Reading by incorporating:

• Explicit phonemic awareness instruction

• Systematic phonics teaching

• Clear progression from simple to complex skills

• Regular practice opportunities.

Differentiation that makes a difference

For Silva, one of Reading Eggs' standout features is its ability to meet each student at their individual stage.

"The differentiation in Reading Eggs is something I really appreciate because students are all at different levels," she notes. "I love that the initial testing places students into what they know and where they need to go."

The program ensures that:

• Students begin at their appropriate skill level

• Learning progressions match individual needs

• Each child experiences success at their own pace.

Building confidence through achievement

In Silva's classroom, Reading Eggs has become a powerful tool for building student confidence. As learners progress through the program's carefully sequenced levels, they experience tangible proof of their growing abilities.

"They gain confidence because they can say 'now I've reached the next map and I'm feeling like I'm in a whole new world!'" Silva shares.

As students gain confidence, they’re empowered through various paths to success:

• Celebrating milestone completions

• Sharing successes and tips with classmates

• Staying motivated with visual progress tracking

• Gaining confidence through quiz achievements.

Data-driven instruction

The program's comprehensive assessment tools also provide valuable insights that inform Silva's instruction.

"We use the data to look at where students are struggling and things the program is touching on that they're not quite understanding," she explains. "That tells us where we need to step in."

This targeted approach allows Silva to track progress, identify skill gaps, provide timely intervention and adjust instruction based on student needs.

Creating cross-curricular connections

Beyond its core reading components, Reading Eggs works seamlessly with our online early mathematics program for schools, Mathseeds, in Silva's classroom, creating valuable connections between subjects.

"Using Mathseeds and Reading Eggs together helps students strengthen their skills and build upon what they already know," Silva explains. "Vocabulary is in mathematics, vocabulary is also in literacy — they need exposure to these things. The programs together provide another opportunity for exposure to different vocabularies and academic vocabulary."

Implementation made easy

Reading Eggs offers a seamless start with its intuitive interface, enabling immediate classroom implementation.

Schools benefit from:

• Comprehensive teacher training

• Responsive technical support

• Regular program updates

• Detailed implementation guides.

"Whenever we have a question or need support, we can easily shoot an email to someone. They always respond very quickly," Silva shares.

Quarterly video consultations also provide additional opportunities for professional development and problem-solving.

Science of Reading success: A teacher's long-term journey

Research-based and ESSA-certified, Reading Eggs has earned educators' trust in delivering effective literacy instruction.

For Lisa Silva and her students at Kula Elementary, it has become an indispensable tool in building strong foundations for reading success. Years later, her enthusiasm remains unwavering.

"I've used it for so many years and it's just a wonderful thing. It really is. It's just a really, really wonderful program!" she shares.

Through its systematic, explicit instruction and comprehensive support, Reading Eggs continues to help young learners develop the skills and confidence they need to become successful readers.