SCHOOL DISTRICT FORUM TO EXPLAIN ELEMENTARY READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAM PILOT

Warminster---Centennial School District is currently piloting two comprehensive reading and language arts programs with the goal of selecting one program for the Centennial School District Board of School Directors to approve and to implement for the 2015-16 school year. Parents can learn more about the programs at an information session that is scheduled for January 28, 2015. Led by Jennifer Polinchock, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Christine Matik, K-12 Supervisor for Curriculum and Instruction, the administrators will present details about the reading and language arts programs that are being piloted in Kindergarten through fifth grade. The meeting will take place at the McDonald Elementary School library from 6:30 PM-7:30 PM.

The District selected Houghton Mifflin’s Journeys and McGraw Hill’s Wonders for the pilot. Both programs include the following components:

· A balance of fiction and non-fiction texts;

· Curriculum-based assessments;

· Level-appropriate reading to accommodate students below level, on-level, and above level;

· Materials designed for students with limited English proficiency or with learning difficulties;

· Language arts materials that include writing instruction, vocabulary, and grammar;

· Technological resources for teachers and students to promote comprehension and mastery.

“We believe that the pilot programs can make a strong contribution to the elementary school curriculum. The pilot process will allow us to evaluate the effectiveness of each program with feedback from teachers and others,” said Dr. Polinchock.

The District’s elementary school principals and the teachers piloting both programs have received training from the publishers, met frequently to discuss the progress of the pilots, and visited with other schools using the programs. At the forum, teachers will share their experiences with the pilots and discuss strategies for supporting students’ reading development skills.

Parents are encouraged to attend the forum and learn more about the pilots. McDonald Elementary School is located at 666 Reeves Lane, Warminster, PA.