System/LEA:Jefferson
County SchoolsProject Name:Accelerated
Reader/Wiggle Works
Project Contact:Sherry
S. Finchum-JESDate of Report:January
7, 2000
1.Using
specifics, compare your timeline and benchmarks in the grant to what is
actually occurring in your project.
(August) All classroom computers are in place and all classroom teachers (2-5) have completed S.T.A.R. testing and started Accelerated Reader.However, when Wiggle Works was installed on the server, the server began having problems.The technicians advised that the current server was overloaded and some teachers could no longer access Accelerated Reader.A new server was ordered in December and paid for by JES and is expected to arrive any day.
At last report, lightening had damaged our remote server that connects our portable classrooms.JES purchased a new remote server, and it is now in place.
(October 30)Forms have been received from all teachers (K-5) reporting their plan of action to implement the Accelerated Reader and Wiggle Works programs into their curriculum.
2.What
progress have you made toward reaching the objectives and goals that you
set in your proposal?
·Two Reader’s Nights have been held in November and December and were hosted by Third Grade and Kindergarten.Reader’s Night dates for January, February, and March, are on the school calendar.
·Teachers are celebrating various authors’ birthdays.Many innovative ideas have been included in these celebrations.
·Our students request D.E.A.R. time.They will not let us forget this “special” time of day.They love it!
·Our school-wide goals to earn reading rewards have been set.Students in most classrooms have already received the first prize level or beyond.The “Book It” program from Pizza Hut fits nicely into our reward structure.
3.What
progress has been made toward the National Goal or Goals as you presented
in your proposal?
·Our National Goal was to increase parental involvement hours in our school program.Over half of our teachers are currently utilizing parent volunteers to help implement this program in the classroom.Parents assisted students in completing their S.T.A.R. assessments, and continue to work daily in the classroom to support teacher efforts while encouraging student success.
·Our school-wide goal for the 1999-2000 year has been established based on Accelerated Reader books read.
·In December our school participated in “Read 2000”, sponsored by Scholastic.This required reading for a total of 2000 seconds.Teachers who reported their activities to Scholastic have a chance to win books for our school library.
·For the first time, our entire school is participating in “Read Across America” on March 2 to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss.Teachers have ordered a “Cat in the Hat” hat to wear during the celebration.
·Student incentive charts indicate that the emphasis placed on reading has increased.
4.At
this point, how is the Goals 2000 funding positively affecting the education
of the children in your county?
·Students are encouraged to read using the Accelerated Reader and Wiggle Works programs.These programs increase reading comprehension and the ability to read for details by driving students to read books to acquire points for prizes.
·Reader’s Night gave one of our gifted students the opportunity to share her reading ability with others.A first grade student, dressed as a reindeer, read the story Rudolph.
·The Internet is now available for every teacher, enabling them to access innovative teaching ideas and learning units.Information via the Internet links relevant facts to units being taught which enriches current curriculum and makes learning exciting!All teachers now have the ability to communicate with parents through classroom websites and weekly newsletters published through technology.
5.Describe some great happenings concerning your project.Please send any articles or documentation to us for our files.
·Approximately 150 people attended each Reader’s Night.Accessibility of our library was made available to parents for the first time through this project.The first Reader’s Night was highlighted in the school section of our local newspaper.See attached article.
·With the new technology in our school, teachers have begun writing and sharing Power Point presentations related not only to reading curriculum, but to other content objectives as well.These presentations are used with students to review or introduce new concepts.
·This project has been a “springboard” for creative writing activities.One example involves a second grade class reading “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”. This inspired these young writers to create their own “If You” stories.They shared their original stories and illustrations with the kindergarten classes.