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Whitley County Consolidated Schools > Mary Raber Elementary School > Public Documents > School Improvement Teams  

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School Improvement Teams

Your source for Mary Raber news and information.

 What is School Improvement?

As professional educators, we strive to be our best.  One way we reach this goal is by creating School Improvement Teams, setting school goals, developing ways to reach these goals, and evaluating their effectiveness.  We also determine if the goals promote highest student acheivement.

 Math Team

 

 Math Team's Goal

Our Plan/Goal is:
During the 2012-2013 school year, we will continue to implement a school-wide research-based basic math fact instruction program to increase each grade level's average percent mastery on its six-week mat fact test. Each week, each class will also solve a Kay Davidson problem. We will continue to ensure student mastery of our Mary Raber math vocabulary list. Math fact fluency, problem solving skills, and math academic vocabulary acquisition are research-based strategies to help us achieve our school goals: 90% of students will pas ISTEP+ by 2013 & 90% of students will meet the district spring NWEA target score by 2013.
 
Our Steps are:
September:
Distribute grade-level math fact mastery guidelines with time limits and instructional resources; Grade-level teams will collaboratively PDSA motivation, strategy, and parent involvement action plans for 2012-2013.
September-May:
Research-based math facts, problem solving, and vocabulary instruction, parent involvement, teacher collaboration and six-week math fact assessments.
 
We will study by:
Teachers will evaluate individual student classroom tests, the grade-level six-week math-fact test results, and classroom NWEA & ISTEP+ growth results/passing rates; Math Action Team will evaluate math grade-level NWEA & ISTEP+ trend results and grade-level six-week math fact assessment results.
 
Act:
Results will be shared through: Math Fact Mastery bulletin board display by cafe/gym for students, school data wall, monthly parent newsletter, meetings/conferences with parents, updates for Mary Raber Staff, morning school announcements, etc.

 Meet the Math Team

Alison Oelschlager
Julie Cossairt
Bethany Hart
Nancy Bridegam
Pam Anglin
Julie Turpin

 Literacy Team

 Literacy Team's Goal

Our Plan/Goal:
During the 2012-2013 school year, we will implement research-based instructional strategies focusing on: Fry's High Frequency Word levels (K-2), vocabulary (K-5), literary text (3-5) and writing applications & process (K-5) to improve students' reading accuracy, fluency, vocabulary, writing and reading comprehension skills. Our school goals are: all students without state exemptions will pass IREAD-III in 2013, 90% of students will achieve the district spring NWEA target reading scores by 2013, 90% of students will pass ISTEP+ bu 2013, and 90% of students will reach their Fountas & Pinnell spring grade-level target.
 
Do, Our Steps are:
August/September: Each grade level reviews research and resources and collaboratively PDSA's strategy, motivation, and parent involvement action plan for 2012-2013.
 
September-May: Research-based instruction and teacher collaboration. Fry assessments are given (by September 19, December/January, and the week of May 23). Continue writing book study 45-minute delays (K-5) to implement and utilize the Fountas and Pinnell reading bookmark assessments 3 times a year (K-5) to implement interventions and determine small reading groups and reteaching needs.
 
We will Study by:
Teachers will evaluate individual student, classroom, and grade-level results from the Fry, vocabulary, and Fountas and Pinnell assessments; Literacy Action Team will evaluate trend data from: Fry Assessments, NWEA, ISTEP+, and IREAD-III; Literacy Action Team will study research-based best reading practices and the Reading Framework (will study results while plan is implemented during the 2012-2013 school year).
 
Act:
Results will be shared through: Fry K-2 grade-level graph on the bulletin board near the cafe for students, school data wall, newsletters, meetings/conferences with parents, updates for staff, morning announcements, etc.
 
 

 Meet the Literacy Team

Michelle Woody
Gwen Grimm
Julie Wood
Amy Perry
Holly Ott
Jeni Mullett
Julie Turpin

 Can you help?

 

Tips for Raising a Reader

By Patti Ghezzi

Courtesy of the Whitley County Reading Specialists

For some children, a love of reading is ignited as early as Green Eggs and Ham.  These kids go on to devour books, and the biggest challenge for parents is keeping up with overdue library fines.

Other children would rather do anything but read.  If this sounds like your child, the first step is to find out whether she has trouble reading, just isn’t interested in it, or both.  You can then work with her to strengthen her reading skills and to make reading more fun.  While you won’t need a degree in education, you will need a positive attitude and plenty of patience. 

When you talk to your child about books, encourage him to share as many details as possible.  A child with a rich spoken vocabulary will be familiar with more words and be a stronger reader. (Peggy Wilber)  For example, if your son mentions that his class read a book about a pet dog, you might ask him the color of the dog and details about the dog’s family.

You can help build your child’s confidence by teaching her lists of sight words or other frequently used words.  Soon she’ll be able to read at least half the words she comes across without sounding them out. 

Find books your child can easily read even if they are below his grade level.  If your child gets stuck on more than 1 in 20 words, the book is probably too hard.  By reading books he can get through quickly, he can practice reading more words. 

Please keep an eye out for more reading tips from your child’s school!

Ask your child’s teacher about Fry words to increase your child’s word recognition and reading fluency!