The 1:1 technology initiative in District 200 is in full swing and that means a large uptick in the number of devices and the implementation of the ReadyGEN literacy curriculum at Verda Dierzen Early Learning Center, and Mary Endres and Olson Elementary Schools.  At Mary Endres and Olson, Literacy & Technology Coach Kristen Sauber has been working with teachers to support them as they learn how to teach in a digital environment.  

This is Mrs. Sauber's second year in the position, but her first year working with only Mary Endres and Olson staff members.  Previously, she worked with teachers in the 1:1 technology pilot from kindergarten through high school, demonstrating her flexibility and effectiveness.  In her role as a Literacy & Technology Coach, Mrs. Sauber works to increase the capacity of the teachers to implement the ReadyGEN curriculum with fidelity, while helping the students to demonstrate their learning in new ways using the available technology.  Kristen co-teaches lessons, facilitates whole group professional development, and works with grade levels to ensure that our teachers have everything that they need to be successful in our digital environment.  Her strong instructional background and her well-developed interpersonal skills have made her an integral part of our district and we are lucky to have her on our team. 

This year at Creekside and Northwood Middle Schools a new intervention program, Read 180, is being piloted to help students who are reading below grade level. This research-based program was designed and developed 15 years ago and has impacted over 1.6 million students nationwide. This year D200 has 125 middle school students involved in the program in grades 6 through 8.

 

The Read 180 (R180) program is provided to students who are not identified with special educational needs but who are reading

Students work independently to improve their reading skills.

more than one year below grade level. Students participate in the R180 program during one of their two literacy periods and during study hall. The 90 minute R180 block consists of whole group instruction, small group instruction with the teacher, independent reading time, and a digital-based individualized instructional learning system that is designed to improve student literacy by targeting their areas of need.

 

The first half of the school year has focused on teacher training
and getting the program up and running. Teachers have had the opportunity to work with a specialized R180 coach who observes their implementation of the program and provides feedback for areas of strength and improvement. The building principals have also participated in trainings to help them analyze the program's data in order to improve the program and determine when a student should be dismissed or move on to other more intensive reading interventions.

 

At the end of the year we will analyze the progress of the R180 students and compare it with those students who were not in the R180 program to determine how to move forward with the program in the future. Some of the early results we have received after this first semester of implementation indicate that about 10% of the enrolled students are potentially ready for dismissal from the program.  We anticipate that by the end of the year that number will grow.