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Northwest Education Magazine -- Fall 1999

Sea Change: Meeting the Challenge of Schoolwide Reform

In this issue: A Rising Tide

Putting It All Together

The School That Said, 'We Think We Can'

No More Revolving Door

Comprehensive Means Everything

Stepping Up the Rigor

Small Planet

Dialogue

About This Issue

Previous Issues

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Small Planet, Part 5
School at a Glance:

Grade Configuration

  • Single-grade groupings are "looped" for two years (students stay with one teacher for grades two and three, and for grades four and five)
Curriculum
  • Vancouver School District adopted the Silver Burdett Ginn (SBG) reading curriculum two years ago
  • The school supplements SBG with Reading Recovery
  • It recently adopted Compass Curriculum Manager software from Jostens Learning Corporation
Title I
  • Staff assistants get daily training in instructional strategies from Title I Coordinator Cheryl Huerena
  • The Title I Reading Room, stocked with supplementary materials at all levels, is open to all staff; many materials are organized by theme in a computer database
  • The Title I coordinator oversees a number of volunteer activities for needy kids, including the Kids Care and Heros projects, which bring middle school and high school kids in as mentors and tutors
Language Support
  • To help the Russian students —the school's largest language-minority group—meet state standards, Title VII Coordinator Katrina Walla is translating materials and test instruments into Russian
  • Language-minority kids are part of the classroom from the first day under the school's inclusive approach
  • Newcomers get literacy instruction in their native language, as well as in English; staff assistants who speak Vietnamese and Bosnian, as well as Russian and Spanish, are among the 25 aides
  • All correspondence for parents is translated
  • Many teachers are working toward ESL endorsements through the Center for Professional Development at Washington State University
Extended Hours
  • Staff are at school 10 hours weekly beyond the regular school day to give kids extra chances for learning
  • An after-school Homework Club in the Title I Reading Room is open to all students
  • A Saturday morning Learning Center offers English-language instruction for families
Magnet School
  • The school pulls in gifted students through its Challenge magnet program
  • It serves students with special needs in its Special Education Kindergarten magnet program

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