“These are the foundational skills that set children up for a lifetime of success.”
3-minute read
Cynthia B. Kaye
Early Education Advocate | EdTech Innovator | CEO, Alive Studios
Last week, I shared a “sneak peek” of the incredible results from our latest Pre-K case study. Today, I am thrilled to announce that the full Case Study is officially here!
While the data is groundbreaking, what truly touched me was the story behind the numbers, the journey of “Mr. Jay” Sturdivant and his vibrant classroom in Georgia.
From “Old School” to an Interactive Zoo Adventure
Mr. Jay, a veteran teacher with over 10 years of experience, described his classroom before Alive Studios as “old school,” heavy on worksheets and scripted lessons. By introducing 3D Augmented Reality (AR) zoo animals, his classroom was transformed into what felt like a daily “field trip to the zoo.”
More Than Just Academics: Building the Whole Child
What encouraged me most was hearing how these resources helped Mr. Jay capture and keep the attention of 3- and 4-year-olds throughout the entire day. We know how difficult that can be!
But beyond engagement, we saw a profound impact on the “Whole Child”:
A Surge in Confidence: Mr. Jay shared the story of his youngest student, who began the year non-verbal and scared, but blossomed into a “confident and joyful little leader”.
Self-Motivation: The interactive nature of the resources sparked a natural love of learning, turning “timid or anxious” learners into active participants.
Essential Life Skills: Through zoo-themed social-emotional stories, students learned critical kindergarten-readiness skills like turn-taking and empathy.
Heartwarming Parent Success
It warmed my heart to see the videos and feedback from the families in Mr. Jay’s class. By using the Letters alive Student Journals at home, parents were thrilled to be an active part of the “magic.” One of the most rewarding sights is a child proudly introducing their family to their 3D zoo animal friends while showing off their new early reading skills.
Meaningful Outcomes for Education Leaders
For my fellow administrators and decision-makers, this study demonstrates that we don’t have to choose between academic rigor and student joy. In just 90 days, we saw:
Accelerated Literacy & Math Growth: Phenomenal gains in letter/sound knowledge and foundational number sense.
Kindergarten Readiness: Students achieved mastery of most upper and lowercase letters, far exceeding the recommended benchmarks for their age group.
Closing the Gap: A proven multi-sensory approach that works for the whole class, including English Learners and students with IEPs. (As proven in our other published case studies).
These are the foundational skills that set children up for a lifetime of success.
You can read the full journey of Mr. Jay’s “little scholars” and see the detailed results here.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this article!