Literacy Goals:
Our reading team is committed to making sure that every child receives the literacy instruction needed to become a confident, capable reader and writer. We work side by side with classroom teachers, co-planning and co-teaching lessons, providing training and resources, assessing student strengths and needs, and offering intervention services.
Reading assessments:
We monitor student reading progress against criteria established by experts in the field of literacy. We use the Benchmark Assessment System created by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell to check reading comprehension, accuracy, and fluency. These one-on-one tests are administered at least twice a year. A student is required to read a relatively short text aloud as the teacher tracks errors and measures words per minutes. A series of literal and inferential comprehension questions are then answered orally. Test performance is aligned with reading levels. These levels help us to reliably match books to readers and to ensure that students are making adequate growth.
As readers progress, we have more sophisticated assessments to measure students' ability to read longer text independently, and to write about what they read. These assessments are appropriate as students shift from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." Assessment outcomes point to ways to deepen critical thinking about reading.
Writing Assessments:
Each year, student writers typically cover two units in each of three genres: narrative, opinion, and information. Teachers use pre- and post- on-demand writing tasks as assessments. Scores are assigned based on how well student pieces compare to grade-level expectations set by the Columbia University's Teachers College and Writing Project, creators of the Writing Workshop units of study that are the foundation of our instruction.
Reading Intervention
For students who need reading help beyond what is offered in the classroom, we provide two tiers of support:
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Teacher-supported small-group instruction in the classroom
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Intensive, one-on-one or small-group instruction outside the classroom
Frequent assessment helps us to track student progress. We try to respond flexibly to shifting students between tiers, and in and out of intervention. We’ve found that solid, consistent intervention, especially with the involvement of students’ families, typically strengthens skills and sets students on a path to reading success.
How to help your child grow as a reader and writer:
The foundations of literacy are laid long before a child reads or writes words on a page. Here are a few ideas for supporting your young child:
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Talk with your child - expose him or her to rich vocabulary; ask questions; encourage thinking
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Play with language - make rhymes, alliterations, silly songs and sentences
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Read TO your child - introduce lots of kinds of books on lots of topics
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Encourage your child to draw
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Let your child see you as a reader and writer
Ideas for once your child begins to read and write:
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Read WITH your child - listen, praise, and talk about the text
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Don’t stop reading TO your child
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Give your child authentic reasons to write - letters, emails, lists, signs
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Play games that involve language - Boggle Jr., Scrabble Jr., crossword
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Visit the library regularly
Resources for parents:
Online Resources for Students
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