D-I-N-OMITE Literacy Efforts

The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE), in partnership with its local school districts, hosted the inaugural San Joaquin County State of Education event in May 2025. The event highlighted initiatives in local schools focused on early literacy, mental health, career preparation, and student connection. 

The following article from the special edition of the SJCOE Outlook Magazine features one of the many early literacy initiatives happening in Lincoln Unified School District.

“Do you go on vacation? Do you play PlayStation? Do you like your occupation?” Orlando Molina sang to eager preschool students at Mable Barron Elementary School. “Do you know what that means? An occupation is a job!”

Students were gathered around the reading rug, hanging onto every word as the Rhymosaurs author and creator Orlando Molina engaged students in word rhyming and association techniques.

This playful interaction, on the surface, seemed like a game to rhyme words like “dog” to “frog,” but the power of play had a profound impact on preschool students’ word association, phonemic awareness, and foundation for reading. Play fuels curiosity, and Rhymosaurs weaves foundational skills with hip-hop based instruction to boost literacy rates in our community. Understanding these positive outcomes, Lincoln Unified School District contracted with Molina to perform in each of their school’s preschool classrooms.

The content Orlando brings to our preschool students is invaluable. Rhymosaurs engages students in a relatable and fun way so kids are learning phonological awareness, breaking down the words, and setting up the foundation for reading.

- Reina Cavanagh, preschool specialist, Lincoln Unified

Implementing music and movement in his instruction, Molina is able to keep preschoolers engaged.  “He’s become quite the community advocate of literacy,” said Kelly Dextraze, superintendent of Lincoln Unified. “When Orlando comes to the classroom, he engages children collaboratively so they can create, color, and chant together.”

Bolstering their early literacy efforts, Lincoln Unified joined the countywide Early Literacy Community of Practice (CoP) convened by the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) to share resources and learn best practices for instruction and engagement. The district also signed the 2023 countywide Early Declaration of Support. “Early literacy is a foundation for all other learning,” said Dextraze. “It’s an opportunity to build independence and confidence in young children, as well as build a basis for their future years of education.”

See what this early literacy initiative and others in the county look like in the following short video: