Astounding Literacy Achievements

at

J. Harvey Rodgers School

During the 2010 - 2011 school year, the J. Harvey Rodgers School implemented a small-group learning initiative focused on literacy and mathematics with the goal of being able to directly address individual student challenges.  The results were incredible. 

With the help of the teaching staff, district Curriculum Coordinator, Principal and district Literacy Coach, classrooms were re-organized to accommodate small-group instructional tables, literacy centers, interactive high-frequency word walls, and bulletin boards for display of student writing. Teachers participated in ongoing professional development and worked with Rowan University to make the most of the initiative.  Individual student progress was monitored monthly and will continue to be monitored over the next 10 years.  

Results were astounding:  in September of last year, just 4 % of the student population was reading at a Kindergarten level.  By May, 69% of the cohort was reading at a Kindergarten level or beyond, with a quarter of those children reading at levels expected at the end of the second marking period in first grade.  Performance improvement was for all students, including ESL students and at-risk students.

Rodgers teachers are continuing professional development and improving the assessment and benchmarking programs this year.  At the Dorothy L. Bullock School, first grade teachers are prepared to accept students who have a much greater literacy functionality than they have seen in the past. They will continue assessments started in Kindergarten to ensure that progress in both literacy and math continues.