School Reading Plan
School Name: Fort Dorchester Elementary
LETRS Questions:
- How many eligible teachers in your school have completed Volume 1 ONLY of LETRS?: 3
- How many eligible teachers in your school have completed Volumes 1 and 2 of LETRS?: 0
- How many eligible teachers in your school are beginning Volume 1 of LETRS this year (or have not yet started or completed Volume 1)?: 31
Please provide a narrative response for Sections A-I. LETRS Questions:
Section A
Describe how reading assessment and instruction for all PreK-5th grade students in the school includes oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension to aid in the comprehension of texts to meet grade‑level English/Language Arts standards.
At our school, reading assessment and instruction for PreK-5th grade students is grounded in a comprehensive approach that integrates key components of literacy: oral language, phonological/phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These elements are essential in supporting students' ability to comprehend texts and meet the grade-level English/Language Arts (ELA) standards outlined by the state.
Oral Language development is the base of communication. Students develop these skills through effective speaking and listening through various opportunities. Teachers foster this essential component through rich discussions and collaborative activities, which allow students to build the vocabulary, expressive skills necessary for understanding texts, and interact with students who may have different perspectives. Teachers also use questioning techniques, interactive read-alouds, group and partner work, and peer interactions to enhance students' spoken language abilities, which in turn strengthens their reading comprehension.
A critical foundational skill needed to transform young learners into future proficient readers is phonological/phonemic awareness. To ensure all students have opportunities to develop these listening and speaking skills, our teachers use a combination of UFLI and Heggerty to deliver cumulative, systematic, explicit instruction to all students in grades 4K-2. This involves teaching students to recognize and manipulate the sounds within words, such as rhyming, segmenting, and blending sounds. The tasks become more complex as students’ understanding of how language can be broken into smaller parts or blended to form words increases. Additionally, we use phonological screeners and phonics assessments during our MTSS process to identify any gaps in students’ abilities and intervene early with targeted instruction.
Using UFLI phonics, our code instruction is systematic and explicit, with a strong emphasis on connecting letters and sounds to help students decode words. With the UFLI curriculum, students engage in phonics activities that align with their developmental needs, ensuring they can read words accurately. We use screeners and diagnostic assessments to determine if students are learning the skills needed to decode written language or if additional phonics support is needed in a small group. We utilize decodable text libraries within Reading A to Z, HMH, and Guided Readers to support students' ability to decode unfamiliar words and practice reading new phonics skills in texts.
Fluency is addressed through repeated reading, modeling fluent reading, and providing opportunities for students to read aloud. Fluency instruction ensures students are not only able to read words accurately but also with appropriate speed, expression, and understanding, which is vital for comprehension. Within our HMH curriculum, there are fluency passages for students to practice reading. Teachers can monitor student progress and provide timely feedback to ensure this important skill is being developed. AIMSweb Benchmarks are used K-1 and Progress Monitoring for students in interventions K-3.
Vocabulary development is woven into all aspects of our reading instruction. HMH Into Reading emphasizes explicit vocabulary instruction, helping students acquire new words through direct teaching and context clues. Because knowledge of word parts aids in comprehension, we place emphasis on the study of morphology to understand the meaning and origin of words in the English language. As students build their word knowledge, they are better able to access and understand complex texts.
Comprehension strategies are integrated throughout the curriculum and spiral throughout the school year. Students learn to make predictions, ask questions, summarize, and infer meaning as they read. Teachers guide students in using these strategies both during and after reading to enhance their understanding of texts. This scaffolding is key to ensuring that students can access grade-level materials and meet the state’s ELA standards.
To ensure instruction is meeting each student's needs, we use a variety of assessments. Aimweb screening tools and Foundational Skills Survey help us monitor foundational skills such as Functional Vocabulary , Phonological/Phonemic Awareness, Letter Knowledge, and decoding/encoding phonics skills in the lower grades, while MAP assessments are used school-wide to gauge overall reading proficiency. Common assessments on the FORMATIVE platform provide teachers with actionable data on students' progress in literacy components, and the results are used to adjust instruction as necessary.
By integrating all these elements— phonological/phonemic awareness, oral language, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—our reading program is designed to address critical literacy skills with the goal of our students not only meeting but exceeding grade-level expectations in English/Language Arts.
Section B
Document how Word Recognition assessment and instruction for PreK-5ᵗʰ grade students are further
aligned to the science of reading, structured literacy and foundational literacy skills.
Our school is using Foundational Skills Surveys(FSS) from Really Great Reading to assess foundational literacy skills taught through HMH, Heggerty, and UFLI. FSS in kindergarten assesses pre-decoding and early decoding skills, including: Functional Vocabulary, Phonological/Phonemic Awareness, Letter Knowledge, Decoding, and High-Frequency Word Reading. First Grade FSS focuses on foundational literacy skills, including: Simple and complex single-syllable words (with short vowels, digraphs, blends, closed syllables, and various long vowel spellings), Decodable two-syllable words, and Select sight words. Advanced Decoding FSS is used in second grade, but can also be used for any student struggling with word recognition. It targets complex single-syllable words (with short, long, r-controlled, variant vowels, complex consonant constructions like trigraphs, and 3-sound blends in real and nonsense words)and decodable two- and three-syllable words (real and nonsense). These word recognition assessments in conjunction with HMH, Heggerty, and UFLI align with the all components of the foundational literacy skills outlined by the science of reading.
Section C
Document how the school uses universal screener data and diagnostic assessment data to determine
targeted pathways of intervention (word recognition or language comprehension) for students in PreK-5ᵗʰ grade who have failed to demonstrate grade‑level reading proficiency.
Using universal screeners, such as AIMSweb, FSS, and MAP Growth, is an essential component of our effective schoolwide MTSS process. Assessing all K–5 students at least three times a year on foundational literacy skills, as well as, comprehension, is essential to identifying students who are at risk before they develop reading problems, and identifying struggling readers early enough to successfully remediate their reading difficulties.
Universal screening is only the first step to a successful Multi-Tiered System of Supports(MTSS). Students identified at at-risk on the universal screener are then given diagnostic assessments, such as Phonological Awareness Surveys, Core Phonics, and comprehension assessments. Our school uses a literacy decision tree to decide which diagnostic assessment needs to be administered. Analyzing the data from these assessments allows us to create targeted interventions to meet the specific needs of each student. Goal setting for students allow teachers to use progress monitoring assessment to monitor growth within the intervention to determine next steps.
Read 180 uses the MAP Growth assessment as a universal placement and a progress monitoring assessment to ensure that students are appropriately placed within the Read 180 program. MAP Growth is administered three times during the year to identify current student reading levels and track reading growth. Students with RIT/Lexile results that indicate they are candidates for foundational literacy skills (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency) will complete a screener called the Code Placement Assessment. The assessment measures both the accuracy and speed of students’ responses of letter recognition, high-frequency word recognition, decoding, and morphology.
Section D
Describe the system in place to help parents in your school understand how they can support the
student as a reader and writer at home.
To support parents in understanding how to help their child as a reader and writer at home, our school has implemented a comprehensive approach including: regular communication channels like class and school newsletters, parent portal, parent workshops that specifically target literacy skills and strategies, such as Gators Raising Readers and Parent Powerhours, Parent Conferences, personalized feedback on student work, and additional resources on class Schoology course. Parents are also an integral part of the MTSS process for students who are performing below grade level. All provide actionable strategies and specific activities aligned with the classroom curriculum to foster a strong home-school connection for literacy development.
Section E
Document how the school provides for the monitoring of reading achievement and growth at the
classroom and school level with decisions about PreK-5ᵗʰ grade intervention based on all available data to ensure grade-level proficiency in reading.
Our school has a solid system in place for monitoring reading achievement and growth for students in PreK-5th grade. By using universal screeners and diagnostic data to inform decisions about targeted interventions, to tailor support to meet each student's needs and help ensure growth to reach grade-level proficiency in reading. Key strategies used to help us monitor reading achievement and growth include:
- Regular Assessments: Implementing regular reading assessments can help track students' progress over time. This might include universal screeners, diagnostic assessments, common assessments, and classroom assessments.
- Data Analysis: Analyzing the collected data help identify trends and patterns in student performance, enabling teachers to pinpoint specific areas where students may be struggling. Teacher and student data notebooks are used to set goals and track growth.
- Individualized Interventions: Based on the data analysis and the use of our literacy decision tree, we develop targeted intervention programs for students who need additional support, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively.
- Professional Development: Providing teachers with training on effective reading instruction strategies and interventions can enhance their ability to support student growth.
- Family Engagement: Involving families in the reading process foster a supportive environment at home, encouraging reading practice and engagement. Building home-school connections help to reinforce skills and strategies needed for success.
- Progress Monitoring: Continuously monitoring student progress during interventions allows for timely adjustments to strategies as needed.
By prioritizing these strategies, our school creates a responsive and effective reading program that helps all students thrive.
ReaL Book Assessments
Students complete daily instructional tasks in the ReaL Book that are used as embedded formative assessments. These assessments monitor student understanding and pace instruction. The ReaL Books also include summative assessments, which help gauge students’ mastery of new skills taught during whole-and small-group instruction. These results are used for intervention, instructional planning, progress monitoring, and grading.
Real Book: Comprehension- Skills monitored include comprehension, vocabulary/ word study, close reading, writing and conventions.
Real Book Code: Foundations- Skills monitored include phonemic awareness/ phonics, spelling and word automaticity, vocabulary, oral reading fluency, comprehension, writing.
Student Application
Screening Assessments identify the correct entry point for each student into the Student App. Formative assessments gauge student learning as they complete daily activities in each Segment. Embedded summative assessments assess student mastery within students' Zone of Proximal Development. This data is used for forming groups, diagnosing strengths and challenges, selecting lessons, monitoring progress, and grading.
Independent Reading Quizzes
Independent Reading Quizzes monitor students’ comprehension of what they read during Independent Reading. This summative assessment data evaluates students' understanding of what they have read, guides reading selection, and provide reading motivation.
Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) Assessments
This summative assessment is administered two to three times a year to evaluate students’ current fluency levels and monitor decoding and oral fluency progress.
Section F
Describe how the school provides teacher training based in the science of reading, structured literacy, and foundational literacy skills to support all students in PreK-5ᵗʰ grade.
Our school provides teacher training based on the science of reading, structured literacy, and foundational literacy skills for PreK-5th grade, we implement using several strategies:
1. Professional Development Workshops
- Workshops: Regular sessions focusing on the science of reading, emphasizing phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Our school calendar allows our school to use Early Release Days, PD days, as well as Early Out Wednesdays.
- LETRS Training: K-3 teachers participate in state required LETRS training.
2. Curriculum Alignment
- Adopt Evidence-Based Programs: Implementation of HMH, Heggerty, and UFLI curricula that are grounded in research, ensuring that all teachers are familiar with the materials and pacing.
3. Ongoing Coaching and Support
- Instructional Coaches: Our school’s literacy coach, who specialize in literacy to work alongside teachers, provides real-time feedback, modeling effective teaching strategies, co-teaching, and data analysis.
- Observations: Admin and coaches observe classrooms to provide feedback and support.
4. Assessment Training
- Data-Driven Instruction: Trainings to assist teachers on how to use assessments to identify students’ literacy needs and adjust instruction accordingly.
- Progress Monitoring: Provide tools for teachers to track student progress and adjust instruction.
5. Ongoing Reflection and Feedback ~Quarterly Data Debriefings
- Reflective Practices: During these debriefings, teachers are encouraged to reflect on their instruction and student outcomes.
- Professional Learning Communities: Focus on what we expect students to learn, how do we know if student know it, what do we do if students don’t know it, and what do we did of students already know it.
8. Creating a Literacy-Rich Environment
- Classroom Libraries: Support the development of diverse classroom libraries that cater to various reading levels and interests.
By focusing on these strategies, our school ensures that our teacher training effectively supports the literacy development of all students, fostering a strong foundation for lifelong learning
Section G
Analysis of Data
| Strengths | Possibilities for Growth |
|---|---|
|
|
Section H
Previous School Year SMART Goals and Progress Toward Those Goals
- Please provide your school’s goals from last school year and the progress your school has made towards these goals. Utilize quantitative and qualitative data to determine progress toward the goal (s). As a reminder, all schools serving third grade were required to use Goal #1 (below).
| Goals | Progress |
|---|---|
| Goal #1 (Third Grade Goal): Reduce the percentage of third graders scoring Does Not Meet in the spring of 2023 as determined by SC READY from 11.6% to 9.6% in the spring of 2024. |
FDES did not meet our goal of reducing the percentage of third grade students scoring Does Not Meet on SCReady from 11.6% in spring of 2023 to 9.6% in the spring of 2024. Our third grade students had a percentage of 15.9% that scored Does Not Meet on the spring 2024 administration of SCReady. |
|
Goal #2: During the 2023-2024 school year, we will improve in the area of Teachers provide students choice in what they read, write, and research from 85.0% of staff rating routinely on the Reflection Tool to 87.0% routinely. |
We were unable to assess if we met this goal due to removal of staff ratings using the Reflection Tool. |
Section I
Current SMART Goals and Action Steps Based on Analysis of Data
- All schools serving students in third grade MUST respond to the third-grade reading proficiency goal. Schools that do not serve third grade students may choose a different goal. Schools may continue to use the same SMART goals from previous years or choose new goals. Goals should be academically measurable. The Reflection Tool may be helpful in determining action steps to reach an academic goal. Schools are strongly encouraged to incorporate goals from the strategic plan.
| Goals | Action Plan |
|---|---|
| Goal #1 (Third Grade Goal): Reduce the percentage of third graders scoring Does Not Meet in the spring of 2024 as determined by SC READY from 15.9 % to 13.9% in the spring of 2025. |
|
|
Goal #2: By the end of the 2024-2025 school year, all K-3 teachers will successfully complete Volume 1 of Lexia LETRS training. |
|