The National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI) has partnered with Elgin Children’s Foundation, a publicly funded non-profit organization based in Tennessee, to provide training and support for a literacy initiative for underserved children in rural Southern Appalachian communities. This partnership is designed to sustain an initiative that began four years ago with over 9,000 students, utilizing Direct Instruction, or “DI”.

Direct Instruction is a model for teaching that emphasizes well-developed and carefully planned lessons designed around small learning increments and clearly prescribed teaching tasks. It is based on the theory that clear instruction eliminates misinterpretations and can greatly accelerate learning. Its creators, Siegfried Engelmann and Wesley Becker, and their colleagues have proved that when correctly applied, DI can improve academic performance as well as students’ positive self-image dramatically.

The National Institute for Direct Instruction, an Oregon-based non-profit founded by Engelmann, will support the initiative’s efforts by conducting regional training sessions for school coaches and administrators and providing on-site follow-up to build capacity at the building and district levels. The training and support services are scheduled to begin this August.

Elgin Children’s Foundation was founded in 2003 to serve children in rural Southern Appalachia, spanning Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, with the mission of giving children a chance to learn, grow, and maximize future educational opportunities. In addition to supporting literacy efforts in 45 schools across nine school districts, the foundation also provides dental and medical care to underserved children in the area.