Learning to read does not happen all at once, and it does not unfold on a single timeline. This year, Alcuin is piloting a new literacy assessment with students in their final year of Primary and across Lower Elementary to better understand how each child's reading skills are developing over time. The goal is simple: to pair our Montessori instruction with clearer, shared language about reading growth so families and educators have a more complete picture of where a child is,  and what they may need next.

The assessment is brief, individual, and designed to feel familiar to students. For younger children, it looks more like short games than a test, focusing on foundational skills such as letter recognition, reading words, and breaking words into sounds. Administered by classroom faculty and Division Directors, the assessment helps educators see how skills are building across the year rather than at a single moment in time. Because reading development is cumulative and highly individual, this information allows teachers to reinforce key skills at the right moment and, when needed, adjust instruction to better support each learner.

For most students, this assessment will simply become one more way progress is understood and shared during fall and spring conferences. In cases where results suggest a child would benefit from additional support, families will be contacted early, and a plan will be developed collaboratively. The intent is not to label or accelerate development artificially, but to ensure that every child receives timely guidance and encouragement,  building confidence, competence, and a lasting relationship with reading.

Families who would like to learn more about this pilot or about how literacy development is supported across Primary and Lower Elementary are always welcome to reach out to their Division Director for further conversation.