LEAD TEACHER VANESSA KEMP IS ON PATROL. SHE VISITS EVERY CLASSROOM EACH DAY, ENCOURAGING THE TEACHERS AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IS MASTERING EACH LESSON.

Ms. Kemp: Mastery is not wishy-washy. Mastery is not, “Well, they kinda got it.” Mastery is like they know their name, “Vanessa Kemp.” That’s mastery, without thinking.

WALTON WAS ONE OF THE WORST SCHOOLS IN FORT WORTH WHEN IT TURNED TO A PROGRAM CALLED READING MASTERY. IT’S A TIGHTLY STRUCTURED READING CURRICULUM THAT RELENTLESSLY TEACHES LETTERS AND THEIR SOUNDS.

Ms. Morgan: Get ready!

Class: Eeee

Ms. Morgan: Yes, eeee. Get ready!

Class: Aaaa.

Ms. Morgan: Yes, aaa.

IT THEN GRADUALLY ADDS ELEMENTS LIKE SPELLING, WRITING, AND READING STORIES.

IT SOUNDS SIMPLE, BUT FOR YEARS TEACHERS AT WALTON AND AROUND THE COUNTRY TOOK A MORE HAPHAZARD APPROACH TO READING. AND THE KIDS WEREN’T LEARNING.

Ms. Kemp: So how many people have, uh, new students in the room that have never had Reading Mastery before?

SINCE THEN, MS. KEMP AND MR. BRASFIELD HAVE MADE READING MASTERY A RELIGION HERE AT WALTON.

Ms. Kemp: And what I’m saying to you, Ms. Scott and everybody, if we only do one lesson a day and those kids are firm, that’s what we need to do, because they’re ahead anyway.

READING MASTERY HAS PLENTY OF CRITICS: TEACHERS WHO SAY THAT IT SQUEEZES CREATIVITY OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. BUT AT WALTON, THE TEACHERS WHO DIDN’T BUY IN HAVE LEFT—OR WERE PUSHED OUT. THE ONES WHO STAYED HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF SUCCESS.

Ms. Jackson: We’re into words now.

Ms. Kemp: Words?

Ms. Jackson: Yes. Words.

Ms. Kemp: Alright, lemme see.

Ms. Jackson: Get ready to sound this word out. Get ready!

Kids: Aaaam.

Ms. Jackson: Starting over. Again. I need to hear each sound. Again. Get ready.

Kids: Aaaaammmmm.

Ms. Jackson: Perfect sounding. Say it fast.

Kids: Aaaammm.

Ms. Jackson: What word?

Kids: Am!

Ms. Jackson: Yes. Am.

MS. KEMP SPENT TEN YEARS IN ACCESSORIES FOR DILLARD’S DEPARTMENT STORES, FLYING BACK AND FORTH TO NEW YORK. SHE GAVE THAT UP WHEN SHE HAD CHILDREN.

NOW INSTEAD OF PURSES AND HATS, SHE’S SELLING A READING PROGRAM. IT’S A TOUGH SELL BECAUSE READING MASTERY REQUIRES TEACHERS TO READ WORD FOR WORD FROM A SCRIPT.

Ms. Kemp: I went to all the workshops, and it was like, this is crazy. These kids are going to be like robots, and they’re answering on signal. This isn’t gonna work!

How did the frog get away?

SHE DECIDED TO TRY IT OUT ON HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

Ms. Kemp: I looped and she said, ‘Mmmm-eeeeee.’ And then she just looked at me. I said, ‘Say that sound. Say it fast.’ She said, ‘Me!’ I, and I hugged her. I said, you know, we might be on to something. This is gonna work!

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Photo Credit for Bearden Elementary: Maude Schuyler Clay
Photo Credit for Walton Elementary: Chris Hamilton