"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free."

— Frederick Douglass

WELCOME TO THE READING OFFICE HOMEPAGE

Kathleen Strangis, Director of Reading

Watervliet Elementary School adopted the Houghton Mifflin core reading program as part of the Reading First initiative.  Since the end of that grant, the district has continued to fully support this program as well as implement this framework of instruction and assessment in grades K-6.  Our Literacy Coach and additional Reading Specialists were initially funded through the grant and now have been absorbed by the district in order to sustain this nation-wide best practice of supporting classroom professionals. Currently, there are six Reading Specialists at WES.

Classroom teachers use core reading materials during their 90 minute elementary or 60 minute intermediate block time to provide whole class and small group instruction.  Literacy work stations are used to further differentiate instruction.  Activities are aligned with instructional outcomes.  Our intervention materials include Fundations, Early Success, Soar to Success, the Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy program, Quick Reads and the Wilson Reading program.  We have also implemented the Words Their Way strategies program to promote hands on working with words.  Intervention students are identified using analysis of assessment data such as grade level DIBELS, DIBELS 3D, core assessments, diagnostic assessments, and outcome Terra Nova exams along with state assessments.

 Since great success has been made using this framework for instruction, and it supports the practical application of RtI, we believe and hold true that all students will be well served and show progress as they travel through our elementary and intermediate curriculum.

Our Mission Statement: To inspire, educate, and challenge every student, every day!