2020 - 2022 – Literacy Pathway

Following the scans and conversations about the academic focus of our school, literacy was seen as an area of success and growth.

In the fall of 2019, Woodward Elementary joined a district initiative for early literacy. This program coincided with our own learning about the literacy needs of our school. During the scanning phases of our school journey, we noticed a need to focus on early learning. We believe that supporting early literacy provides a solid foundation for lifelong learning.

During the 2019-2020 school year, we focused on providing common literacy assessments to establish a baseline for our literacy skills. Our hard-working Learning Resource Team assessed our youngest Wildcats and were able to provide direct literacy intervention to students that were not at an age-appropriate reading level. This intervention also supported the literacy learning in our classrooms. Classroom teachers collaborated with Learning Support Teachers to connect their practice around common themes. Our Wildcats showed great improvement through the fall and winter with this extra support and specific reading goals.

In the spring of 2020, our Learning Resource Team, in collaboration with our classroom teachers, developed a plan to expand our literacy intervention project to meet the needs of all learners at Woodward. Our 2020-2021 plan was:

• Create early primary reading groups to continue our work from the previous year
• Engage with district literacy experts and school psychologists to find reading screeners and assessments for the whole school
• Assess the reading levels of all students using a common assessment
• Provide in-class support based on reading assessments
• Provide targeted intervention from Kindergarten to grade seven for students with specific literacy needs
• Acquire and learn about an expanded literacy intervention program (Fountas and Pinnell)
• Re-scan the needs of our students
• Explore other forms of data on the literacy skills of our students

During the fall of 2020, our school team re-scanned the needs of our school. We discussed the specific literacy needs of our students as staff. We examined data from our reading assessments and FSAs. We monitored the work of our students in the early primary literacy groups. We also acquired a new level of literacy intervention programs and organized them to be used throughout the school. The experts from our district team guided Woodward towards common reading screeners and assessments. The foundation of a new literacy program was taking shape and our plan was ready for action.

In the winter of 2021, our Learning Resource Team provided reading screeners (quick snapshots of reading levels) and assessments for specific reading groups. With this knowledge, our teachers were able to shift their teaching to more specifically meet the needs of their students as well as provide direct support for those at different levels.

Through the spring, we are focusing on adapting our literacy intervention program for more students. Our amazing Teacher-Librarian is connecting with each classroom to provide Lit Circle support. Our Learning Resource Team has provided direct support in literacy based on the changing needs of our students. Students and teachers are sharing in this literacy journey together.

Due to the hard work of our students and the new knowledge of their literacy capabilities, Woodward’s growth in literacy is taking off. We believe that strong literacy skills are foundational to the long-term success of our Wildcats. We look forward to continuing on this journey through the next school year to maximize the success of all learners at Woodward.