READING FIRST PROGRAM

Spring Creek Elementary became a Reading First School in 2003 , meaning that our school receives state grant dollars under the No Child Left Behind Act for the express purpose of teaching all students to read. Teachers attend an intensive state training in research based methods of teaching reading, plus on going training and follow up training.

Earobics (one of the first grant expenditures) reinforces phonological and phonics skills via computer software. We incorporate other research based materials like Leap Frog Centers and Leap Pads with books, classroom libraries, Fluency First and Elements of Vocabulary kits, along with the Accelerated Reader and English in a Flash from Renaissance Learning.

Every grade level at Spring Creek Elementary has a daily ninety minute reading block where students are grouped according to their individual needs. This allows highly  differentiated and targeted instruction. Whole  and small group activities are conducted to allow better progress monitoring and adjustment of groups.

One of the monitoring tools we use is the Dynamic Indicators of Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). This very reliable measurement of literacy skills is given to all kindergarten through third grade students. Each quarter parental notification goes to those students requiring additional reading instruction and they are accommodated with an additional thirty minute small group reading intervention daily. For the 2008-09 school year we once again have on full time staff two reading coaches and a reading resource specialist.