OnYourMark, Get Set, Go!

At OnYourMark Education, we’re passionate about closing the literacy gap. Our high-impact live virtual tutoring program, rooted in the Science of Reading, helps schools scale Tier 2 and 3 instruction. Recently, we hosted an edWebinar featuring Elizabeth “Lizzie” Diamond (K-2 Network Content Leader) and Emily Hunyadi (Principal) from FirstLine Schools in Louisiana. They shared their firsthand experience implementing OnYourMark’s virtual tutoring program, busting myths and highlighting best practices that drive real results. (You can read more about Lizzie and Emily here.) Here’s what we learned—and why it matters for district leaders, CAOs, curriculum directors, and elementary principals.

An OnYourMark Case Study: Lincoln Parish Schools Summary With reading proficiency gaps in some K-2 students at Lincoln Parish Schools in Ruston, Louisiana, former Chief Academic Officer Dana Talley sought support from virtual high-dosage tutoring provider OnYourMark Education to close reading gaps for primary grades. After 10 weeks, the 80 students receiving support grew +4.2% on their overall composite reading scores. Kindergartners showed the highest gains, moving from the 13th to 24th percentiles.

An OnYourMark Case Study Overview At Uplift Luna Primary School in Dallas, Texas, students like Veronica (name changed for privacy) struggled to read at grade level. The challenges were steep: the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, gaps in foundational literacy skills, and the pressure to meet rising academic standards. But with the help of OnYourMark Education and dedicated tutors like Donna Auwarter, Veronica—and many others—found not just academic success, but also confidence and a love for learning.

  Short on Teachers Plus Struggling Readers Did you struggle to fill teaching vacancies before this school year? If your answer is an enthusiastic “Yes!” you’re not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a whopping 74% of public schools said the same. In July of 2024, the Learning Policy Institute reported that there were nearly 42,000 teacher vacancies across 30 states and the District of Columbia. If there is one universal truth in the post-pandemic education landscape, it’s this: our kids are struggling, and we don’t have enough teachers to support them.

We can predict a child's academic and personal success based on one key characteristic. Yep, just one. What is it? That student's ability to read fluently by 3rd grade. According to research, a staggering one in six children who are not reading proficiently in 3rd grade do not graduate from high school on time, a rate four times greater than that for proficient readers. Most educators have known—and been vocal—about these high stakes for a long time. We know that children need to build strong foundational literacy skills between kindergarten and 3rd grade. But why? Why are the stakes so high? What happens as students move into upper-elementary and secondary school that requires such a strong foundation in reading's basic skills? The stakes are high because foundational literacy skills build upon each other. In other words, without them, students will (at best) struggle with high-level content comprehension. These critical skills—reading, writing, and spelling—are a bridge to success in almost every academic task a child will experience in school and beyond. Remember that one characteristic mentioned earlier? Studies prove that a student’s early proficiency in these literacy skills can predict success later in a person’s life: in college, in employment, and even in their personal relationships.

How to Build Effective Partnerships Between Schools, Caregivers, and High-Dosage Tutoring Providers You’ve decided that high-impact literacy tutoring is the solution for your students. Three possible scenarios here: 1) You’re already working with a provider, but your partnership has been… shall we say, “less than optimal,” and you need to take steps to improve your collaboration. - OR - 2) You’ve just started working with a provider and are looking for best practices to get the most out of your partnership. - OR - 3) You don’t yet have a provider but want to know exactly what to look for from a provider to ensure the best possible return on your investment. So what to do? Develop an action plan that supports your high-dosage tutoring program at any stage of implementation and sets your entire community—admin, teachers, students, and caregivers—up for success. Keep reading to learn more.

Based on a multitude of research over the last few decades, we now know that with effective instruction based on the Science of Reading, 95% of children can learn to read by the end of 1st grade (Moats, Louisa C., 2020). This truth has empowered early childhood literacy instructors to dive into understanding the Science of Reading and how to implement strategies in their classrooms. But what about the students who still struggle to learn to read? At OnYourMark Education, we believe that all children deserve to be successful readers. Read on for our favorite tools and strategies to support struggling readers.

Evaluating Early Literacy Programs: 5 Essential Questions for Principals Literacy is undeniably a cornerstone of a child's educational journey. As educators, it's our responsibility to ensure our literacy programs are effective and empowering. Here, we explore five critical questions every principal should ask about their school's approach to early literacy high-impact tutoring support.

If you’re able to attend back-to-school night to meet your child’s teacher, let’s call that what it is… a minor miracle. From scheduling activities to selecting foods, sorting out friend groups to calming nerves about the playground, it takes more than a few miracles each day to help your kids grow and thrive in schools. For the youngest learners, though, perhaps one of the greatest joys to witness is when kids start learning to read. Early learning educators will tell you that teaching kids to read is, often, the very best part of being a teacher. That’s why it’s so important that caregivers join with their teachers in supporting literacy at home. Learning to read doesn’t just happen on its own, and it doesn’t happen solely because of the teacher. It takes a team approach.