Setting the Bar High: How One 6th Grade Class Soared as Readers

In a world where reading proficiency often determines academic success, one 6th-grade class proved that growth isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable when passion, purpose, and persistence meet in the classroom.

At the heart of this story is a teacher who believes in setting the bar high and supporting her students to reach it. With her intentional guidance and unwavering enthusiasm, her 6th-graders didn’t just read more—they grew as readers in ways that surpassed expectations.

The results speak volumes:

• Average reading growth across the class? 1.95 grade levels.
• Students with 2 years of growth? 12 of them.
• Students with 3 full years of growth? 8 shining stars.

Their journey wasn’t fueled by shortcuts—it was built on commitment. Each student invested an average of 43 hours on MindPlay, a program designed to support individualized literacy development. And they did this while keeping up with all their regular classroom responsibilities.

By the end of the school year, about one-third of the class was reading at Level 9 or higher on MindPlay—a level that typically signifies advanced comprehension skills. This academic momentum carried into statewide testing, where 100% of the class passed the STAAR Reading assessment and 26% earned “Masters” status, the highest performance level on the test.

But beyond the numbers, there was a quieter, more meaningful shift taking place:
The students discovered a love for reading.

When their teacher asked them how they felt about reading at the end of the year, many shared that they enjoyed it more now—because they were better at it. That joy was more than just a feeling; it was evidenced in their choices. When their teacher, pursuing her own college coursework, read Beowulf as part of an assignment, some of her students asked if they could read along too. And they did.

This story is a testament to what can happen when educators believe in their students, equip them with the right tools, and hold them to high expectations with heart. Growth in reading isn’t just academic—it’s transformational.