Each elementary school site in the four districts will receive $5,000 for materials to support reading intervention and early literacy, said Yolande Grizinski, curriculum director at the WCESC, who applied for the grant. Grant monies may be used to purchase intervention resources and materials but may not be used to purchase technology or diagnostic assessments.
Regina Morgan, curriculum director for Little Miami Local Schools, said the district is already using these materials to enhance the reading curriculum.
“To intervene with our K-3 students who are reading below grade level, we have been utilizing the Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention System (LLI). Prior to receiving the grant, LM teachers had to share kits, which did not always give them the exact resources needed,” she explained. ” With the funds received, we were able to complete our LLI intervention materials at grades K-3. Our new materials have been received and are currently being utilized.”
LLI is a supplementary literacy intervention program designed to help teachers provide daily, small-group instruction for the lowest achieving students. LLI supports learning in both reading and writing and helps students expand their knowledge of language and words and how they work.
WCESC also purchased a subscription to Tumblebooks for each elementary site to support reading at home and at school. This subscription allows parents, teachers and students to access an online collection of ebooks that will further enhance what students are learning in the classroom.
Pat Dubbs, Superintendent of Wayne Local School, said the grant and Tumblebooks allow the district to support the elementary students who need intensive intervention and to provide enrichment for all its young readers.
“This online program supports the home-school connection. The books are animated and in natural language format,” Dubb said.
WCESC also will use funds from the grant to host a conference on reading instruction in June. Teachers serving students in Wayne, Carlisle, Kings and Little Miami will be able to attend at no cost. The conference also will be open to teachers from other districts for a nominal fee.
Grizinksi said WCESC also is creating a video-channel to provide literacy resources and information for parents and teachers, which is scheduled to be available in spring 2014.
“I am so excited about the early outcomes from this grant,” Grizinski said.
About the Author