Change: Curriculum Development and Program Improvement

1
Change Curriculum Development and Program
Improvement

• Presentation by
• Peter Fingerlin
• Jennifer Smith
• Adrian Allotey

2
Was there a need for a change in the reading
program?

• Low Standardized Test Scores (Based On The Number
  Of Students Below Proficiency)
• NJ ASK
• Terra Nova
• School Wide Needs Assessment (Developed And
  Applied By The Language Arts Supervisor)
• A Failing School
• Reading First Initiative Grant

3
How was the project implemented?

• State Directed
• Pre-Implementation Survey
• New Staff Hired
• Professional Development
• Scientific Research Based Materials
• Delayed Implementation
• 90/30 Minutes Equals 120 Minutes of
  Reading/Language Arts

4
Professional Development

• Guided Reading And Running Records Training
• Wiggle Works Software Training
• Center Activity Development And Management
• Reading Strategies
• Writing Workshops
• Differentiated Learning
• Developmental Spelling
• Dibels Training

5
Implementation (cont)

• Year One (2003-2004)
• Kindergarten And First Grade
• Midyear Start (Delayed Funding)
• New Staff And Materials
• Year Two (2004-2005)
• Kindergarten Through Third Grade
• Started On Time
• Year Three (2005-2006)
• Developmental Spelling
• Hartcourt Series And Reading First Strategies In
  Fourth Grade
• Introduction of Reading First Strategies To The
  Fifth Grade And Review Hartcourt Series
• Professional Development Provided Each Year For
  All Staff And Parents

6
How do you determine if the program is
effective?

• Dibels Testing (Fluency and Comprehension
  Components (3 Times A Year)
• Standardized Testing
• NJ ASK (Increase In Student Scores)
• Terra Nova
• Teacher Assessment
• Running Records
• Teacher Created Tests
• Selection Tests
• Writing Prompts and Samples
• General Observations and Questioning
• Holistic Tests

7
What are the strengths?

• Dibels Identifies At Risk Students
• Additional Intervention For At Risk Students
  (Literacy Team Support)
• Additional Materials
• Books-(Leveled Books)
• Furniture
• Software
• New Curriculum (New Reading Series-Harcourt
  Series-SRRB)
• Increase In Staff
• Director
• Coaches
• Literacy Support Team
• Smaller Reading Groups
• Increase In Professional Development
• Cultural Change In School (Everyone Has Bought
  Into The Concept)

8
What are the weaknesses?

• Limited Amount Of Time For Grammar And Writing
  Processes
• Prescheduled And Inflexible Reading Blocks
• At Risk Reading Students Receiving Intervention
  Are Still Not On Grade Level At The End Of The
  Year

9
How do you feel personally and professionally
about it?

• Believes In The Program
• Wants To Implement It Into All Grade Levels
• Excited About The Changes In Staff Interaction
  And Collaboration
• Enthusiastic About The Parental Component Of The
  Program

10
What are our reactions to the interview?

• Greater Appreciation and Understanding Of The
  Components Necessary For Successful
  Implementation Of The Program
• A Greater Understanding Of The Strengths And
  Weaknesses Of The Program
• The Program Has Allowed Us To Improve Teaching
  Strategies And Diversify Teaching, And Encourages
  A Learning Community

11
Our Final Thought

• We realize that implementation and sustainment
  of educational change is not only possible, but
  it makes a significant difference in the lives of
  children.