A Classroom Grant awarded to Erica Nightengale, 5th-grade teacher at Heritage Elementary, is helping students improve their reading and decoding skills through hands-on, interactive learning—this time, with SyllaBoards.
The grant funded a set of SyllaBoards for every K-5 classroom in the school, giving teachers a research-based tool to support instruction in syllabication.
"SyllaBoards provide students with a tactile, engaging way to decode multisyllabic words by applying knowledge of the six different syllable types," said Nightengale, "They can be used as a supplement to the district’s reading curriculum or for targeted intervention."
Professional development was provided so teachers could learn how to use the boards for both encoding and decoding across all grade levels. Nightengale led training based on her experience with Really Great Reading’s Multisyllabic Decoding program, ensuring educators felt confident integrating SyllaBoards into their instruction.
“Having these boards in every classroom allows us to differentiate learning and give students enrichment opportunities,” Nightengale explained. “When teachers have the right tools and training, students gain confidence and develop stronger decoding skills.”
Since the grant’s implementation, SyllaBoards have been used in small group instruction to help students practice syllabication, reinforce grade-level reading skills, and strengthen orthographic mapping. With five boards per classroom, the project has the potential to benefit every student at Heritage Elementary—more than 400 learners—while also supporting teachers in filling gaps and providing enrichment.
The Foundation’s investment highlights the importance of funding teacher-led projects. “It’s so important for teachers to receive funding for initiatives like this,” Nightengale noted. “It demonstrates the community’s support for our schools and helps us do what’s best for our students.”
This project supports the district’s reading curriculum while addressing gaps in explicit syllable instruction, helping students become more successful readers. With the boards already in place, Heritage teachers are empowered to continue using them for years to come.
