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Reading at Barron Park
Adapted from a Letter from Principal Cathy Howard, Barron Park Buzz, November 18, 2003
“Why do we read? We read to know we are not alone.”
~ C.S. Lewis
Each year, in our school Site Plan, we set learning objectives for our students in reading. The 2003-2004 Barron Park School Site Improvement Plan includes the following objectives:
- 90% of the students who have been in PAUSD for at least three years will read and write at grade level or above.
- Students who were below grade level in June 2003 will make at least one full grade’s progress plus significant progress toward closing the gap between their actual achievement level and grade level by June 2004. A minimum of 25% reduction in the achievement gap will occur for under represented minorities.
- Students who were at or above grade level in June 2003 will continue to make at least one full grade’s progress at or above grade level.
In addition to these goals for achievement, our school Site Council also sets an annual goal of “fostering a love of reading.” The past few weeks have seen a flurry of activity focused on all of these goals. At kindergarten and first grade Literacy Breakfasts, the teachers of each grade level and our Reading Specialist described our literacy program and the ways children learn to read and write. They emphasized the important role parents play in developing their child’s love of reading and writing. Through the Take Home Book Program (funded by the Noyce and Peninsula Community Foundations) primary grade children take home a children’s literature book each week for family read aloud time. In kindergarten and first grade, each day starts off with parent/child reading time. These events reinforce in-class instruction in small guided reading groups, which focus on both the sounds (phonics) and sense (comprehension) of reading.
As students progress through the grades and grow as competent and fluent readers, instruction focuses more on comprehension and literary response and analysis. At each grade level, all students share a few works of core literature. These books are selected by the District and are often related to grade level science or social studies units. Other books may be read by individual students, small group literature circles, or the whole class.
Our annual Book Fair celebrates reading across all grade levels, culminating in Stories for a Starry Night. Later in the year Read Across America Day, falling on or near Dr. Seuss’ birthday, features our annual book exchange, where students can trade in books they have outgrown for new selections.
