Curriculum

Curriculum Adoption Committee

We are forming a committee to evaluate new reading curriculum for grades K-5. We want to be certain that families have a voice in the process too. The committee will meet after school Tuesdays for an hour, with the tentative schedule below. If you would like to be a part of the process, please contact Nancy Nelson at Nancy.Nelson@leschischools.org or call 253-445-6000 x3018. Thanks for considering!

Why are we looking for a new curriculum?

As a school, we realize that the curriculum used for our elementary students lacks many important language elements such as: phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, fluency, vocabulary and oral language comprehension, and text comprehension. Scientific research shows that these elements are vital for the current and future success of student literacy.

How you can participate:

As a parent, your understanding of the reading curriculum and how we are teaching it is vital. Student success is directly related to the support they receive at home. We want to be partners with you on the education of your child and would like your input. Your perspective may be unique from ours as educators, and we welcome your collaboration. To participate, we would ask that you agree to come to all the meetings.

· Meetings will be on Tuesdays from 3:40pm to 4:40pm.

· Dec 3 – Initial gathering to overview process, review rubrics, preview materials

· Dec 10 – Refine rubric, practice use

· Jan 14 - Deep dive 1

· Jan 21 - Deep dive 2

· Jan 28 - Deep dive 3

· Feb 4 - Deep dive 4 or compare and contrast

· Time for mini pilots if needed/appropriate

· Early March – meet for final recommendation/selection

If the curriculum is not effective, what are you doing for students right now?

CLS has committed to a 2-year Professional Development Training program for our PK-5 teachers. This program is called LETRs and its focus is to provide our teachers with deep knowledge to be literacy and language experts in the Science of Reading.

We are also intervening with students. Testing has shown us that there are many students who fall into the urgent intervention category for literacy. To start to combat this, we have dedicated instructional staff to literacy interventions with students daily. In addition to students’ normal classroom instruction, we have three staff members whose sole focus is to provide small groups and one on one instruction with our at-promise learners. The goal of this intervention is to provide our students with the opportunity to recover missing standards and strategies to become successful readers and writers.

How can I learn more?

If you are interested in joining our committee, contact Nancy Nelson for more information. Nancy.Nelson@leschischools.org or call 253-445-6000 ext. 3018

Information on the SCIENCE OF READING

Information on the LETRs training for teachers