THOMASVILLE — Pre-kindergarten students at two city elementary schools soon will be able to fire up their reading skills. 

Thomasville City Schools’ system was awarded a $16,200 “On Fire for Literacy” grant to help kickstart early reading for students. 

The grant will provide Harper and Scott elementary pre-K students with a Kindle Fire tablet for the 2018-19 school year. The tablets will be pre-installed with Footsteps2Brilliance, the city schools’ early literacy program. 

“It’ll keep count of how many words they’re reading at home,” said Dr. Daniel Oldham, assistant superintendent of teaching, learning, and assessment. 

Tablets will be given to students and parents who attend parent’s night at the beginning of next school year, Oldham said. 

Harper Principal Melvin Hugans said providing students with instructional resources such as the tablets are a “double win for technology and education.”

“The first win is for our emergent readers who have the opportunity to be exposed to text awareness and vocabulary outside of school,” he said. “The second win is ultimately for the school due to the fact students bring a wider range of text awareness and vocabulary into the classroom.

“Technology is a powerful tool which can enhance the learning process and support the literacy foundation the teacher has established.” 

Said Scott Principal Brian Beaty: “Putting this technology in the hands of young students can help them develop early literacy skills.” 

The plan at Scott, Beaty noted, is for students to keep and use the tablets at home and bring them to school on Fridays to sync the devices.  

“We will reward students that have adequate usage at the end of each week,” he added.   

Oldham said the tablets will help prepare students for kindergarten. 

“Kids love technology,” he added.  

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.