Research Based Program
Delavan Elementary School
by Paul Lewis
Researched Based Programs at Delavan Elementary
by Paul Lewis, Principal
Many researched based programs have recently been implemented at Delavan Elementary improving student achievement. Last school year, full day kindergarten was approved by the Board of Education benefiting this year’s first graders by better preparing them for first grade. Michael Heggerty, a phonemic awareness curriculum, was implemented in kindergarten during the 2007-2008 school year. Also, twenty elementary teachers were trained to teach phonics using the Discover Intensive Phonics program. This direct instruction phonics program was implemented in January 2008.
Presently, kindergarten and first grade teachers are introducing their students to the Zaner-Bloser technique of forming and writing the alphabet. Zaner-Bloser is an option within the Discover Intensive Phonics program, and has been regarded as a more student friendly method to properly form letters. The Zaner-Bloser curriculum will gradually be implemented all the way through the elementary grades.
The Board of Education hired a Reading/Math Intervention Specialist for the elementary. Research indicates that early interventions benefit students’ academic achievement. Students needing additional instruction in math and reading will now be able to receive needed assistance from the Reading/Math Intervention Specialist and/or Title I/Reading Specialist in a small group or individual setting.
All elementary teachers received training in the use of AIMSweb the day before school started. AIMSweb is a standardized assessment that will direct classroom instruction and be used to monitor research based interventions used to develop students’ reading and math skills. AIMSweb will be used to benchmark each student’s skill level in reading and math at the beginning of the school year, mid-year and at the end of the year. This benchmarking will allow teachers to compare a student’s reading and math development to their classmates and to a national norm. This tool will also aide teachers in identifying student’s strengths and weaknesses, directing student’s instruction, and monitoring interventions that have been put into place.
For the first time in many years kindergarten through 6th grade students will experience art instruction taught by the District’s art teacher. Students go to the art room one time each week for 45 minutes. Art is a means of helping students learn using a different intelligence.
Finally, each elementary student receives instruction in a classroom that is cooled by two ceiling fans. The fans use ¼ the electricity and are much quieter that the box fans that have been used in the past. Also, extra board space has been added to the closet doors in each elementary room allowing all students to have board space during Discover Intensive Phonics instruction.
Please visit and experience one of the many researched based programs recently implemented at Delavan Elementary.
