that is why new york city is changing the way children are taught to read and they re using a new curricula starting next year and they re providing extra help for some of the most vulnerable students. reporter: at brooklyn gardens elementary school in east new york, kids who are falling behind in reading get extra help. can you tell me, jayden? sh. sh, what sound does s make? oh, you already put them together. reporter: like 6-year-old jayden jacobs. jayden s word is cup. cup? uh-huh. c-u-p. reporter: the first grader began the school year reading at a kindergarten level then they launched a high level tutoring project. three times a week jayden meets in a small group with a tutor from brain trust, a company that relies on the science of reading, using evidence-based methods like teaching kids to sound out word and letter