Focus areas are limited to a few so they can be supported by the budget, staff development activities, monthly professional growth discussions, lesson plans, evaluation goals, uninterrupted instructional periods, and communications with parents. Teachers support the areas of focus by adopting practices through which daily lesson plans are designed to support a grade level standard. Students who read above grade level work in larger groups in student-led literature circles or participate in independent reading followed by literature responses. During the additional 45-minute heterogenous reading period, children of all levels work together on shared reading, Writer's Workshop, vocabulary development activities. A weekly writing prompt is scored by students using a simple rubric and analyzed by teachers to determine areas that need improvement.
Teachers analyze student work at monthly staff meetings to determine effective strategies.
These discussions form the basis for adjustments to lesson plans and regular peer observations. Our Certificate of Merit extension program challenges our GATE and high-achieving students. Each morning, students complete a short assessment in math, language arts, reading, or writing. The results are turned in to the principal each day and serve as the basis for discussions about student proficiency in each area. Students who have worked hard, shown academic progress, been especially kind to others, or displayed honesty, etc. are recognized.