Reading is something a lot of us take for granted, but learning how to read is a struggle for some Bibb County students.
Justin McDuffie visited Brookdale Elementary to see their new reading initiatives in action.
Reading is something we all did in school, but some Bibb students aren't at the level they should be.
"Once they understand that we're going to meet them where they are and there is no reason to feel ashamed of who they are or where you are, but our goal as teachers is to ensure that you grow. Then our kids buy in as well," says Kim Tolbert, the principal of Brookdale Elementary.
To help fix some students' reading deficits, all Bibb County elementary schools now have 120 minutes of reading instruction every day.
"Research has shown us that students do not struggle as much if they're able to read and comprehend by the time they get to the third grade," says Tolbert.
During that two hours of instruction, students read independently, take part in small group-guided reading, and use software like System 44.
The software is for students who are 2 grade levels or more behind. It's being used for the first time this year.
"When they get on the software, the students like it because it's technology-based and it is designed especially for them. They put on their headphones and they start speaking into the software."
Debra Shipp has been teaching in Bibb for years and says the district's new priority on reading is making a difference.
"System 44 and the guided reading working together is truly a success story. We've already seen lots of growth already. It is truly like the key to helping students improve their reading level," says Shipp.
Assistant Superintendent Tanzy Kilcrease says those aren't the only changes. Some teachers are even getting special reading endorsements.
"When they go to college, they do not teach reading explicitly, so the reading endorsement teaches the skills that they need in order to teach reading explicitly so that student can learn how to read proficiently," Kilcrease says.
And it takes both the teacher and the student working together to get to proficiency.
All Bibb students are regularly tested to see when their reading level improves.