ABOUT PALS
Teacher Comments

Kindergarten PALS Reading
This is my fourth year teaching kindergarten. I have never had so many students reading at this time in the kindergarten. This program is very easy to implement and extremely beneficial to all students. All students will go to first grade knowing letters, sounds, decoding skills, and reading many words. Students who participated in this program will have a head start over other children in regard to reading as they enter first grade. - Mrs. Johnson, Dupont Elementary School (Title 1), Nashville

PALS has helped my students tremendously with reading and writing. I am much impressed! - Mrs. Bellar, Brookmeade Elementary School, Nashville

"It takes a whole village to raise a child" is a true proverb that is played out at Carter-Lawrence on a daily basis. Our university students, volunteers and teachers work together to improve student learning.

Recently, during a visit in Mrs. Birdwell's Pre-K classroom, I observed students reading words and discerning vowel sounds. After a few minutes, I praised them for their good working habits. One student spoke up and said, "I can read books, too." He proudly read a book to me. This is just one example of what happens when the community becomes involved in our schools. Our many thanks go out to Vanderbilt University and everyone who has partnered in implementing PALS in our pre-K program. - Ruth Beaman, Principal, Carter-Lawrence Elementary Math & Science Magnet School, Nashville

Grade 1 PALS Reading
"PALS is an amazing help in teaching children to read." - Mrs. Hollis, Brookmeade Elementary School, Nashville

"The PALS activities were very easy to implement. They provided intensive times of actual reading by every student, as well as interaction with other students. It provided a valuable addition to my regular reading instruction. I believe the PALS program was of benefit to low, average, and high performing students. - Mrs. King, Dodson Elementary School, Nashville


"My students have made a lot of progress. I had three students that I thought would be retained this year. The PALS approach to reading has really made a difference. I’m not retaining any children this year." - Janet Richardson, Dupont Elementary School (Title 1), Nashville