New Britain herald., 1928-05-15
HOPE ID IMPROVE
 WRITING 0f YOUNG
Miss Fluon's Report Deals With
 Elementary Grades


 Miss Ella 4. Fallon, supervlsor Of elementary schools in this city has submitted her annual report to Supt. s. H. Holmes who has presented ii to the school board.
 It follows:
 "Mr. Stanley H. Holmes
 Superintendent of Schools
 My dear Mir Holmes;
 This IS brief statement Of the outstanding accomplishments Of the Elementary Department 0: the Schools during lao.-eS.
 Tn looking back, the undertakings 0! the year seem 10 fall naturally into chief fields: one. that or organ izing and readjusting to meet un- usual developing conditions; the other, that ot school work itself and movements 10 improve it.
 ''The first mentioned item, organ izing and adjusting. were, as you s.now, due to three causes; the sud den demand .o absorb and provide for about two hundred children from the Sacred Heart School: the burning osthe Israel Putnam School; and the establishment of an additional dis trict, the Benjamin Franklin. with in the borders of three existing dis tr.cts in order to relieve part time and over-crowding in the Washing ton, Bartlett and Lincoln Schools.
 Altogether these necessary ad- ius,men,s called for intensive atten- ton at times from carly autumn till practically the present time, affect ins in all, over seventy classes Of children and hundreds of other chill dren 0ho because Of the reorganlza- ton ot the classes that they were In, were also subject to change. II IS worthy ok note that, through the fleA- loility and general cooperation Of all, the changes were made with min mum degree of distraction and loss: practically normal grading has been maintained. All classes are now Of about standard size and only the children of the Israel Putnam School are still or part time.
 'In the other field Of effort-that c. the class room progress-should be mentioned the successful estab- lishn1ent of The Child's Own Way" in the teaching Of reading to the first grade children. This was an ardu- GUS undertaking, and called for much extra time and effort from all concerned. Results have shown the " orth of the labor. The children love to read, many have made un hn al etvAo n carly non promotions has laid a promising foundation for increased progress later
 "A determined effort 10 improve the handwriting of all grades was initiated by the hearty undertakings of all teachers Irresponsible for teaching writing) 70 master the course of penmanship in use in the schools. During the whole year this study by the teachers has continued industriously. Many now are ap- preaching the close of the course: others, who will not have completed it by the close of this school year. in- tend 10 continue till the work is fnaiIy finished. The class npom writ ine is much improved in consequence of the better understanding Of meth cd and form by the teachers.
 While the number of library teachers is limited. all engaged in this work have added 70 their skill by taking a limited course at their own expense in library work.
 Much gain in group and individ- ual instruction has been made dur ing the year and this practice is ex- tending further for next years ap- plication through committees which at the close of the year will have children's goals in arithmetic ready for use in September. A similar purpose has been beneath a heavy and valuable piece Of work done by the First Grade teachers in creating and assembling types Of profitable independent reading occupation now being filed for references in the teachers library.
 ''The Kindergarten teachers have reyised list of kindergarten eaulp- ment ready for submission. and have made commendable progress in the york oe revision of the Kindergarten
 
 course Of study.
 "A careful study C. spelling books and methods of teaching spelling has been made by a committed. The findings were favorable 10 the re- vised Horn -Ashbaugh speiler now Tn use.
 "The revision Of the lists Of live tex. books used by the children have also been a useful contribution.
 Many ot the steps towards better work have been made possible through the service Of Miss Larson. whose adaptability and efficiency nave been invaluable.
 While the items mentioned arc spoken o' as outstanding, the gener- q we'll being Of the schools as whole is the most significant testi- mony O. the credltable achievement os the children and teachers during he year.
 Respectfully submitted,
 ELLA 4. FALLON,
 Supervisor Of Elementary Schools