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Comprehensive Literacy Model
Washington School implemented the Comprehensive Literacy Model in the 2007-08 school year. This school-reform initiative employs well-trained Literacy Coaches who demonstrate and model for classroom teachers research-based teaching methods and practice in the essential components of a balanced literacy program (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing process). Classroom teachers then practice these same methods under the Literacy Coach’s guidance. This initiative is based on research that clearly indicates that a school does not improve unless it's faculty improves. The Comprehensive Literacy Model has resulted in dramatic gains in student performance in schools across the country that have adopted it. Washington was the first school in Wisconsin to use this model.
A key component of the Comprehensive Literacy Model is Literacy Team meetings. The Literacy Coach meets with all the teachers at a grade level to discuss assessment results of individual students and determine what instructional changes may be appropriate for students who may not be making good progress. These teams also look at students who are exceeding expectations and discuss what classroom teachers can do to more appropriately meet the literacy needs of these students as well.
The Literacy Team meetings also serve as an opportunity for the Literacy Coach to provide training to the teachers on a variety of topics, review research on effective literacy teaching, and examine instructional materials for possible use in the classroom. The effective use of this time assures the faithful implementation of the Comprehensive Literacy Model in all classrooms.
The Comprehensive Literacy Model calls for regular, frequent, and intensive discussions about student progress and instructional improvement. Our students and our teachers are the beneficiaries of this model.
For more information about the Comprehensive Literacy Model visit their web site at www.arliteracymodel.org.
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Reading Recovery Program
At Washington, assuring that all children become strong readers is our first priority. When a child first shows signs of trouble with reading progress, we intervene. We are the only Sheboygan elementary school with teachers specially and extensively trained in the internationally acclaimed Reading Recovery Program to address reading problems early and intensively.
Reading Recovery helps close the achievement gap between the lowest-achieving students and their grade level classmates before that gap becomes too great to bridge. The key pieces are intensive, daily 30-minute one-to-one lessons for 12-20 weeks in reading, writing, and working out words. Each lesson is targeted to the child's specific needs based on frequent assessment. The outstanding success rate of Reading Recovery has been demonstrated in numerous environments. The program turns frustrated, struggling children into confident readers who feel successful early in their school lives. Though the investment in training teachers in Reading Recovery is significant we believe it is not as expensive - both in terms of money and a child's self esteem - as placing a child in special programs for year after year or retraining the child in the same grade for an additional year or more.
Comprehensive Literacy Model Daily Schedules
The daily schedules at Washington School are arranged to provide the students with the maximum opportunities to increase their comprehensive literacy.
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