Our focus on this age group is crucial. Research shows that 88% of students who are reading at grade level by the end of first grade will continue to read at grade level throughout school. Conversely, 88% of students who aren’t reading at grade level by the end of first grade are unlikely to ever catch up, directly affecting their academic success across the board. Academically, students who aren’t reading at grade level struggle in every class, year after year, because by third grade over 85% of the curriculum is taught through reading. Reading is the skill by which students get information from books, computers, worksheets and boards to learn math, science, literature, social studies and more.

Our music and drama-based curriculum is engaging, building literacy skills and student confidence. It is easy to see that students come alive when they get to sing songs, perform plays, and make art at school. Now there is a compelling and growing body of evidence that integrating the arts into classrooms not only has the easily observable benefit of increasing student engagement, but it also has been shown to result in a wide spectrum of academic and social benefits, especially at improving reading and language skills, thinking skills, and motivation to learn. Music and drama-based lessons connect young students physically, kinesthetically, and imaginatively, stimulating their minds on different levels, leveraging their natural love for the arts, and most importantly, accelerating their learning of reading skills.