Frye said the lab helps students master critical learning skills so they can keep up with elevated academic standards. What we're trying to do is catch them early before they fail. Nearly 500 students attend the school, which serves students from kindergarten through second grade. About 95 students come to the lab every day for one-hour sessions. The hour is broken up into three 20-minute sections, where students participate in exercises designed to help them improve their reading skills.
Students sound out words phonetically and practice reading passages from books.
They are also shown flashcards to build their word recognition. Reading specialist teacher Sandy Turley said combining the resources into one-hour meetings has been less disruptive for students than pulling them out several times a day. Students have displayed dramatic progress because they are given more small group attention each week, she said. Students who need extra help and receive it are less likely to act out in school, said Principal Diane McClelland. McClelland said she has seen less discipline problems from youngsters who visit the lab because their needs are addressed.