Words Work! is an approach to improving literacy outcomes for children through teacher development and parent engagement. In this article the authors describe the pilot phase of the project. The staff at Words Work! created an assessment system that aligns curriculum with assessment and collection of student data and teacher planning. Teachers use what they learn through the assessment data to give direction to their planning and improve their instruction. In turn, through their drive to learn and increased literacy competence, the children demonstrate that when teachers learn, children do too.