Aligned with Illinois Standards, Trusted by Educators
Explore how our programs align with Illinois early childhood and K–5 standards and support strong, evidence-based instruction across classrooms. Download sample lessons, hear from Illinois educators, view upcoming events, and connect with our team to learn more about partnerships, pilots, implementation support, and more.
Every Child Ready – Comprehensive Early Childhood Curriculum
Aligned with Illinois Early Learning & Development Standards (IELDS)
Every Child Ready has been reviewed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and is aligned with the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards (IELDS). It is included on Illinois’ list of curricula that meet ExceleRate Illinois Standard 1B: Curriculum for center-based and family child care programs.
This alignment reflects Every Child Ready’s research-based, developmentally appropriate approach to supporting early language, literacy, and learning in preschool and pre-K.
Collaborative Literacy – Comprehensive Reading and Writing Instruction (K–5)
Aligned with the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Comprehensive Literacy Plan and Curriculum Evaluation Tool helps districts evaluate programs for alignment with state standards and best practices. It emphasizes the Seven Components of Literacy—oral language, phonological awareness, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing—to support strong, equitable instruction.
Discover how Collaborative Literacy, our comprehensive K–5 reading and writing program, aligns with each component and brings research-based instruction to life. Comprised of Being a Reader™ and Being a Writer™, the programs can be taught separately, but when used together, they create a deep connection between reading and writing.
The Reading League has published a Curriculum Navigation Report on Collaborative Literacy as an informational tool for curriculum decision makers. Visit The Reading League Compass to access the report.
Being a Reader
Grounded in scientific reading research, Being a Reader follows a continuum of reading development to meet each student at their instructional point of need and take them to their next level of literacy through whole-class, small-group, and individualized approaches.
Being a Writer
Being a Writer is a comprehensive, research-based writing curriculum that emphasizes the writing process, encourages student choice, and fosters a community of writers. Students develop skills in narrative, informative, and opinion writing while learning to collaborate, reflect, and revise.
Collaborative Literacy + SIPPS (Tier II and Tier III Intervention) for a Multi-Tiered System of Support
Thanks to an aligned scope and sequence, common routines, and similar lesson structure, students can move between the two programs seamlessly.
SIPPS is:
- Highly supportive of educators, easy to implement, and well-suited to tutoring and expanded learning settings
- Aligned with the science of reading
- Proven effective with young readers (K–3), older readers (4–12), multilingual learners, and students identified with dyslexia
- Flexible, adaptable, differentiated, and MTSS-aligned for use across all tiers of instruction
Upcoming Events in Illinois
The Reading League Annual Conference (Sponsor)
Illinois Leaders Who Are Already Making an Impact with Collaborative Literacy
Being a Reader and Being a Writer have been instrumental in helping both new and veteran teachers rediscover their passion for teaching literacy, while also sustaining high levels of student achievement and growth.
Teachers have strengthened their instructional practices, and across classrooms there is consistent evidence of student engagement in high interest, grade-level texts, frequent opportunities for peer discussion, and production of high-quality writing. As a result, 90% of our third- and fourth-grade students are performing at or above proficiency on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, as defined by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Christine Trendel, Ed. D.
Director of Curriculum
River Forest D90
We have been a customer of Collaborative Classroom for four years, utilizing their programs, Being a Reader, Being a Writer, and SIPPS.
The programs has been instrumental in helping our Tier 2 and Tier 3 students make literacy gains as well as improve instructional practice amongst staff. We have seen tangible results, including an increase of 400% in expected growth in reading scores over the course of one year in one of our regions.
Tammie Lieb
Director of Primary Education
Concept Schools
Get in Touch to Discuss Pilot Opportunities, Implementation Planning, and More
Seasoned educators Kristy Rauch and Mimi Vatterot support our school, district, and community partners in Illinois. Send a message to begin the conversation, or select a time and date from the calendar below to schedule a meeting.