Closing the Reading Gap: How Creative STEAM Is Raising Confident Readers

One of the most eye-opening discoveries we’ve made at Creative STEAM Academy is this:

Many students arrive with hidden gaps in reading.

Some come from public schools. Some from private schools. Some from well-meaning homeschool environments where parents were doing their very best but without the tools to assess reading development deeply.

And here’s the truth:

Without a strong reading foundation, every subject becomes harder.

So instead of ignoring the problem or hoping students “catch up,” we decided to build a solution.

A New Standard for Reading Support

This year, Creative STEAM implemented a comprehensive reading assessment system across TK–8th grade. Every student will be evaluated for both reading level and comprehension, giving us a clear picture of where they are and how they grow year to year.

We’ve also hired reading specialists and interventionists who work directly with students needing extra support. Our reading specialists pull students for one-on-one instruction, targeted intervention, and confidence building.

And here’s what matters most: This support comes at no additional cost to families.

Because at Creative STEAM, literacy is not an add-on. It’s our standard. There is no reason any homeschool student should fall behind in reading and we are committed to making sure they don’t.

Why Reading Gaps Happen in the First Place

Many traditional systems teach reading on a fixed timeline:

First grade → first-grade books

Second grade → second-grade books

Third grade → third-grade books

But children don’t develop on spreadsheets.

When a child is moved ahead before they’re ready, they feel lost. Then they’re asked to read out loud in front of classmates. Anxiety sets in. Confidence drops. And soon reading becomes stressful instead of joyful.

That’s when we hear:

“I hate reading.”

“Books are boring.”

Sometimes it even shows up as silliness or avoidance — not because the child doesn’t care, but because they’re protecting themselves from embarrassment. And that’s how an anti-reading culture begins.

The true goal of early literacy is simple read at the pace of the child to create confident readers that develop a lifelong love of reading. That happens when children move at their own pace, feel safe, and experience success.

At Creative STEAM:

📚 Students are read to every day

📖 Students read daily at their level

🎧 Audiobooks support challenging texts

💬 Weekly novel study discussions build comprehension and excitement

And yes our teachers read novels out loud to students all the way through 8th grade. Because being read to isn’t just for little kids. It builds vocabulary, comprehension, listening skills, and a shared love of story. It keeps reading joyful, communal, and pressure-free while students continue strengthening their own independent reading.

We begin novel studies in TK, so even our youngest learners experience stories, conversation, and connection around books. Students look forward to sharing opinions, favorite characters, and big ideas.

Because reading isn’t just a skill It’s a relationship with learning.

Why We Believe in Reading Assessments

I’ll share something important:

While I am not a supporter of standardized testing, I am absolutely in favor of reading assessments. But not the kind you’re thinking of.

Our reading assessments are one-on-one, personal, and diagnostic. They are not used to label students, rank them, or compare them to an online benchmark. They exist for one reason only: to identify gaps early and close them quickly.

These assessments give us peace of mind for students who are progressing well — and a clear plan of action for students who need extra support. No guessing. No waiting. No falling through the cracks.

Because at Creative STEAM, literacy isn’t optional. Every child deserves to be a confident reader. And we take that responsibility seriously. Raising Capable, Lifelong Readers Our goal isn’t just for students to pass a reading test in third grade. Our goal is for them to be confident, capable readers at 18 with the habit of reading, the ability to think critically, and the love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

That’s the Creative STEAM difference.

We don’t wait for gaps to show up.

We find them, address them, and close them together because we are invested in all of our students learning progress. One confident reader at a time.