Despegando hacia la lectura is a comprehensive, Spanish-language, early literacy resource that can be fully implemented as a stand-alone early literacy program.
Combine it with its English language counterpart – the award-winning Flying Start to Literacy – for rigorous dual-language instruction.
Program components

The program consists of:
- Paired Books
- Vocabulary Starters
(unique to Early Emergent Stage) - Lesson Plans
- Take-Home Books
Click Here to go to Program components.
Program features
High-frequency words have a high rate of repetition with a low ratio of unfamiliar words. Key vocabulary is introduced systematically.
Key vocabulary is carefully introduced and constantly revisited. Paired books present the same key vocabulary in different text types.
Paired books present the same high-frequency words in different sentence structures and text types.
A variety of text types enable the development of a range of reading strategies.
Text types with different structures and text features build reading strategies for texts that have different purposes.
Text complexity is carefully sequenced to build reading strategies.
Despegando hacia la lecturaTM is sequenced into 7 Developmental Stages. Reading strategies are developed and consolidated at each level.
The teaching of phonics and phonemic awareness is supported by the program.
Underpinning Despegando hacia la lecturaTM is a systematic and explicit sequence of phonemic awareness and phonics. This sequence is matched in the books to provide a context for learning.
Fluency enhances comprehension.
Lesson Plans provide opportunities for oral reading and include the re-reading of books to improve word identification skills and comprehension.
Reading and writing are linked.
The range of text types and the pairing of narrative and informational texts provide models of writing for the readers. Comprehensive Lesson Plans include writing as an integral part of each lesson.
Assessment is ongoing to inform instruction.
Ongoing assessment forms part of each teaching sequence.
Click Here for the Reading Development Across Stages Chart.
Click Here for the Reading Development Across Stages Chart in Spanish.