Not Just Watching, But Doing: How The Right to Read Inspired Real Change in Portsmouth

When Frances Knight Thompson, MS.Ed. saw The Right to Read, she didn’t just feel moved—she got to work. With more than 30 years as an educator and countless hours spent tutoring local students, Frances understood one thing clearly: many children were struggling, and conventional classroom methods weren’t always meeting their needs.

Why Today's Reading Methods Aren’t Enough

Traditional models like balanced literacy or guided reading often rely on context clues and guessing—techniques shown to be slow and unreliable. These methods can unintentionally disadvantage Black and Brown students, who may lack early literacy exposure or consistent support at home and in school. The result: decoding skills don’t develop fully, and comprehension suffers.

In contrast, the Science of Reading is grounded in decades of research: explicit phonics, phonological awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. These are not trends; they’re proven building blocks every child needs.

How Frances Turned Inspiration into Impact

We can't teach them how to read perfectly in a week, but if we can help them learn to decode words, their reading ability will improve and so will their confidence.

Inspired by the film, Frances led the launch of ChainBreakers’ Reading Enrichment Program. It’s designed to support—not replace—classroom learning.

Here’s how it works:

• Students get 10 hours of small-group instruction focused on phonics, decoding, and fluency.

• Families join workshops and commit to daily reading at home.

• We align our program with the Science of Reading so that students don’t just sound out words; they understand them in context.

In just one week, many students show noticeable improvement in their reading confidence and ability.

Why This Matters

Our goal isn’t to criticize teachers or schools. We deeply respect the hard work of Portsmouth educators. But we also know that gaps in training and resources can leave some students behind—especially Black and Brown children who face systemic disadvantages. By providing targeted support and research-based strategies, our program strengthens the whole literacy ecosystem in the city.

Join Us in Taking Action

If you want to help more children decode and comprehend with confidence, here are two ways to get involved:

• Volunteer as a reading coach, tutor, or family support lead.

• Support us through donations, resource contributions, or spreading the word.

Together, we can turn watching into doing—and help Portsmouth’s children from struggling readers into empowered learners.

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