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Challenging students in literacy is goal at Harmony Grove schools |
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Friday, 28 September 2007 |
Challenging students in literacy is the focus this school year of the Harmony Grove School District.
"We're working very hard to improve literacy scores," Superintendent Danny Henley said. "We're making a concentrated effort in literacy" across the curriculum, from kindergarten to 12th grade
The goal is listed in the district's annual report to the public.
"Math scores have improved a lot, so those scores have improved," Henley said. "Now, we are making a concentrated effort in literacy."
The Reading Recovery program is one way the district is addressing literacy. The program benefits first- and second-graders. The Reading Recovery teacher also leads several small literacy groups.
The district is continuing its subscription to a skills-based computer program called JEdI, or Juvenile Education Initiative. Henley said it's a Web-based program being used in the district's computer lab. It also can be accessed from home by students or parents.
Aides have been hired with federal money to help students in middle school, Henley said. A reading specialist will work in the middle school to help improve test scores.
A reading/math intervention program has been added this year to help students who score "basic" or "below basic" on tests.
Henley said a Direct Instruction Reading Program will be started at the kindergarten level, as soon as faculty is trained.
Parental involvement is another goal at Harmony Grove. "We always encourage parents to be involved," Henley said. He noted in the report a good turnout of parents attending high school, middle school and Westbrook Elementary School parent meetings.
"We hope to have more participation from parents in their child's education," he said. "The parent resource center has added new materials for parents. These materials are designed to help parents reinforce skills taught at school."
Parent workshops will be held to inform parents how to improve their child's education, Henley said.
Henley said also that the district always has the goal of considering ways to coordinate curriculum frameworks established by the state.
Representatives of Arkansas Counseling Associates were "a welcomed help for our students," Henley said. They are helping more than 30 students in the middle school.
Other goals include the continuation of the Excelsior software grading system to give parents access to grades and starting a Saturday program to ensure completion of homework and class projects.
Henley delivered the report to the Harmony Grove School Board earlier this week.
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