Early Childhood Forum

We are building momentum with our early childhood message and as part of our "challenge" we are building a common language for the top 5 things we can communicate to build early literacy skills. If all of our leadership team promoted the same 5 strategies and then if all of our community members could communicate the same 5 strategies to our youngest residents/family members....Could we impact 10 more students this year, 20 more students the next and so on with a common message around literacy.

 

For more information, please come to our Early Childhood Forum on November 18, 2014!!

Early Steps to School Success 

Sit and read together EVERY DAY

Before starting school, an average kindergartener should have 1000 books read to them.

20 minutes of daily reading significantly increases a child’s reading achievement.

Talk using new words

The average kindergartener should be exposed to 30 million words before starting school.

The size and effective use of a child’s vocabulary is an important indicator of future literacy ability.
Ask questions as you read

The goal of reading is to make meaning. Asking your child questions before, during, and after reading fosters comprehension.
Recite rhymes, sing songs -repeat

Rhymers are readers: Nursery rhymes build memorization, sequencing, voice inflection, and exposure to new words.

Repetitive reading builds word recognition and confidence.
Take time to point out print EVERYWHERE
Children who live in print-rich environments and who are read to during the first years of life are much more likely to learn to read on schedule.

Never too early- read to infants because learning begins at birth

One-to-one attention and nurturing encourages a love for reading
With your commitment, the building blocks of literacy are free

 

Celebration

Test scores are just one measure of student in growth in Pendleton County Schools but we are celebrating exceptional growth for the 2013-14 K-Prep results. We are fortunate to have so many teachers and leaders, along with community members who put kids first.  Congratulations to everyone on significant growth!!

District	2012-13	2013-14	Difference
Overall Score	64.9	66.7	+ 1.8
Percentile	50	62	+12
MET AMO:    Yes             Needs improvement/Progressing                                                      (Note:  Proficiency  67.5=0.8 away from proficiency)

 

The Zipcode Lottery

THIS IS A MUST WATCH: ZIPCODE LOTTERY !

One of the most important predictors of school success and high school graduation is grade-level reading by the end of third grade. This short video clip puts it all into perspective....AND hopefully lights a spark to be an active part of the solution for your community!

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (www.http://gradelevelreading.net) is a collaborative effort by foundations, nonprofit partners, states and communities across the nation to ensure that more children in low-income families succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career, and active citizenship. The Campaign focuses on the most important predictor of school success and high school graduation—grade-level reading by the end of third grade.

Research shows that proficiency in reading by the end of third grade enables students to shift from learning to read to reading to learn, and to master the more complex subject matter they encounter in the fourth grade curriculum. Most students who fail to reach this critical milestone falter in the later grades and often drop out before earning a high school diploma. Yet two-thirds of U.S. fourth graders are not proficient readers, according to national reading assessment data. This disturbing statistic is made even worse by the fact that more than four out of every five low-income students miss this critical milestone.

Although schools must be accountable for helping all children achieve, providing effective teaching for all children in every classroom every day, the Campaign is based on the belief that schools cannot succeed alone. Engaged communities mobilized to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and assist parents in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities to serve as full partners in the success of their children are needed to assure student success.

 

Little things that make a big difference!

Today was our opening day for students in PCS. Nothing like shining hallways and beautiful classrooms to welcome our students. It's definitely the little things that make such a big difference. Thanks to everyone who took the extra time to hold a hand, find a classroom or just offer a smile to our students today. I'm looking forward to a great 2014-15 school year!!

 

            

  Click here.... for butterfly clip

Engagement

Northern Elementary reaching "bubble kids"!

Southern Elementary reaching "bubble kids"!

Instructional Rounds for PCS

Instructional Rounds were also held at PCHS and the leadership team met with teachers to analyze the next step documents. Mr. Simms shared the overall process with the teachers and Mr. Dietrich closed the meeting by having teachers reflect on the feedback and complete an exit slip. Each teacher then identified their top 2 needs and their next moves on an exit slip. He now has a written commitment from teachers of their “next steps” in moving PCHS to the next level!

Reading with Cardinal Pride

I just had to share my pride tonight for the genuine work SES put into the literacy night for kids. The turn-out was impressive and student engagement was at an all-time high!  From reading in a tent with a flashlight to making a "sequencing" s'more--it was great to see so many kids excited about their learning!  A big thank you goes out to everyone who helped organize such a quality event! YOU are making a difference!!