“Literacy Is Everywhere”: How Two Literacy Coaches Are Making Reading Relevant for Today’s Students

When people think about literacy, they may picture a student sitting down with a book. But according to Dr. Michelle Crespo-Melendrez, 6-12 Literacy Coach, and Krissi Campbell, K-5 Literacy Coach at Florida Cyber Charter Academy (FLCCA), literacy is much bigger than that. 

For these two educators, literacy includes reading, writing, speaking, listening, and communicating effectively. And in a virtual school, that means finding ways to connect literacy to the technology, activities, and experiences students already engage with every day. 

“Literacy is everywhere. Reading is everywhere. Communicating is everywhere. It just looks different now,” said Dr. Crespo-Melendrez. 

Finding Literacy in Everyday Life 

Dr. Crespo-Melendrez believes students don’t always have to interact with literacy in traditional ways to practice important literacy skills. 

Even short-form videos, for example, require students to interpret information, follow a story, and understand how ideas are communicated. A TikTok may look very different from a traditional book, but it can still have a beginning, middle, rising action, climax, and ending. 

By connecting literacy concepts to the formats students already know and use, educators can help make learning feel more relevant and accessible. 

Mrs. Campbell also believes families don’t need to dedicate hours every day to building literacy skills. 

She encourages families to find small opportunities to read together, have someone read to a child, or even incorporate literacy games into everyday activities such as car rides. 

“Read or have someone read to you every day. Twenty minutes. That’s all it takes,” said Mrs. Campbell. 

Supporting Teachers, Not Evaluating Them 

Dr. Crespo-Melendrez and Mrs. Campbell aren’t only focused on supporting students. Much of their work involves helping teachers strengthen their literacy instruction. 

Both coaches emphasize that their roles are non-evaluative. When a literacy coach enters a classroom, teachers know they’re there to provide support, not evaluate their performance. 

Before visiting a classroom, the coaches ask teachers what they would like support with and what they want the coach to look for. From there, they may observe instruction, work directly with students, model strategies, or help teachers develop action steps. 

The process is designed to be collaborative, with teachers and coaches setting goals together, reflecting on instruction, and determining what they can continue working on. 

Making Literacy Interactive 

At FLCCA, literacy also extends beyond the traditional classroom lesson. 

The school has incorporated literacy into activities such as Literacy Month, Literacy Night, and Read Across America Week. During last year’s Literacy Month, teachers recorded themselves reading approved books while students created advertisements promoting the books. 

This year, the school plans to expand that engagement through quarterly literacy contests, monthly read-and-record activities for younger students, and activities centered around Sunshine State Books for students in grades 3-5. 

Literacy Doesn’t Have to Look Just One Way 

The goal is to help students recognize that literacy isn’t something that only happens when they open a book. It’s part of how they communicate, understand information, and interact with the world around them. 

It can happen through a book, a conversation, a video, a presentation, or an interactive virtual activity. By meeting students where they are and finding ways to make literacy relevant to their everyday lives, FLCCA’s literacy team is helping students see reading and communication in a new way. 

Because literacy isn’t limited to what’s on the page. It’s everywhere. 

Enrollment is still open for the 2026-2027 school year! To learn more about Florida Cyber Charter Academy and explore enrollment options, visit https://flcca.k12.com/. 

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