FOG Annual Report 2019

ANNUAL
REPORT
2019
FOG Readers
Youth Literacy Program

01 | Annual Report 2019
A YEAR IN READING
Dear FOG Readers Family and Friends,
We're happy to share the successes of another year
in reading with you. In its third year, FOG Readers
has been able to serve more students than ever
before. Thanks to the generosity of our volunteer
tutors, over 265 students were able to have one-onone
help with foundational literacy skills this year.
We want all students in San Francisco to love
reading and to become lifelong library users. We
have wonderful collections of books that will
interest every child, but it's hard to fall in love with
reading if you can't read the words.
Literacy research has taught us quite a bit about
how to teach reading in a way that benefits all
students. FOG Readers tutors are using this
science-based information in their sessions and are
teaching students the tools and skills they need to
succeed on their own.
We're very proud of the amazing reading gains our
students have made this past year and the
wonderful work done by tutors. The gift of reading
changes lives, and we look forward to more success
as we move into 2020!
Laura Lay
Learning Differences
Librarian
Kate Eppler
The Bridge at Main
Program Manager
Contact:
readers@sfpl.org
415-557-4388

7.3%
22.7% 21.3%
40.7%
8%
02 | Annual Report 2019
STUDENTS SERVED
Half of San Francisco elementary school students are not reading at grade level. Children
who are behind in reading at the end of first grade won't catch up without help. Students
need explicit and systematic interventions, and this can be costly. In San Francisco,
these services cost between $80-$120 an hour but are offered for free at SFPL.
STUDENTS BY GRADE
Students enter FOG Readers at different grade and
reading levels. Memorizing and guessing words can
be successful strategies for poor decoders in the
early grades, but will fail them by third and fourth
grade. Therefore, students' reading difficulties can
be overlooked until third grade.
STUDENT PROGRESS
Students are making tremendous
progress as they learn new skills.
On average, students increase .6
of a grade level in the first three
months and continue to increase
over 1.5 grade levels in a year.
5th grade+
7.3%
1st grade
8%
2.5
2
1.5
4th grade
22.7%
2nd grade
21.3%
1
0.5
3rd grade
40.7%
0
Day 1
3 Months
6 months
9 months
12 months
266
Students met with
tutors in 2019
www.sfpl.org/fog

03 | Annual Report 2019
H E S C I E N C E O F R E A D I N G
T
Reading is the product of decoding (the ability to read words on
the page) and comprehension (understanding those words).
Background knowledge
Vocabulary
Comprehension
Language structures
Verbal reasoning
Skilled Reading
Literacy knowledge
Phonological awareness
Phonics
Decoding
Sight recognition
Learning to read is not a natural process like learning to talk; our brains
are not hardwired to develop this skill. Because the process of developing
our reading circuit is both unnatural and complex, the type of instruction
students receive makes a big difference in reading outcomes. We need all
the parts of the above reading rope to become skilled readers.
Students are far more likely to have difficulties in decoding than in
language comprehension. If a child has a reasonable grip on oral
comprehension and sufficient vocabulary, reading comprehension should
not be far behind. The part of learning to read which must be directly
taught is connecting the sounds to letters — phonics.

04 | Annual Report 2019
OUR APPROACH
FOG Readers is a highly structured program based on the science
of reading and the Orton-Gillingham methodology of instruction.
The program focuses on the decoding aspect of learning to read
and breaks reading and spelling into smaller skills involving letters
and sounds. Our main goal is to move students away from
memorizing and guessing words to using their knowledge about
the language to break apart new words on their own.
It is a phonetically based, sequential, structured approach that
uses multisensory techniques – this means tutors use sight,
hearing, touch, and movement to help learners connect language
with letters and sounds.
The program uses a specific order of introduction of reading skills
based on how we learn language. Each meeting is structured to
include the same seven basic parts: decoding and/or phonics,
word-level reading, the lesson of the day, vocabulary building,
spelling, writing and reading aloud.
Students meet with the same tutor on an ongoing basis. Forging a
relationship and consistency are important factors in improving
reading skills and gaining confidence.

05 | Annual Report 2019
T U T O R E X P E R I E N C E
I've enjoyed my time tutoring Samuel
immensely. He's progressed so well
over the last two years, and I have
full faith that he's in a much better
place than when we started.
- Alexis, tutor since 2017
I had a GREAT time with Peiying.
She is really goofy, yet focused at
the same time. I offered for us to
take a break 20 minutes in, and she
said, No, I want to keep learning the
vowels! She is incredibly well
behaved, knows her alphabet, and
has prettier handwriting than I do!
-Roger, tutor since 2019
sfpl.org/fog

06 | Annual Report 2019
P A R E N T F E E D B A C K
Samantha loves Sally so much. She
says she's the best tutor she's ever
had. :) We are so grateful Sally has
been tutoring Samantha for the past
few years.
- Laura, FOG Readers parent
Thanks for having this program. It
has been a huge help and
tremendous for Leila's confidence
and ability to read more fluidly and
better. She actually now loves going
to meet Catharine and has
developed a special bond.
-Jay, FOG Readers parent
sfpl.org/fog

07 | Annual Report 2019
M O V I N G I N T O 2 0 2 0
We will continue to serve San Francisco struggling readers as FOG Readers
moves into its fourth year. We currently have over 300 students on our wait list
and we know there are far too many students in San Francisco that need extra
support to achieve reading success. With the goal of meeting student demand,
we hope to establish new partnerships with school sites, community
organizations and corporate responsibility initiatives.
Interested in helping out?
Contact us!
readers@sfpl.org
415-557-4388

08 | Annual Report 2019
L I B R A R I E S F O R A L L ,
R E A D I N G F O R A L L
FOG Readers is a San Francisco Public Library program.
All library programs are free.
sfpl.org/fog