Irene Reither Elementary has achieved remarkable success in reading growth over the past year, thanks to the implementation of the i-Ready assessment, new supplemental curriculum and a dedicated coaching program.
“The remarkable growth in reading skills at our school is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our students and teachers,” Principal Tyler Dockins said.
The i-Ready assessment, which has been used for the past four years, is administered three times a year to measure student progress and make necessary instructional adjustments. This past year, the school saw its highest growth rates ever. On average, classrooms had more than 100% growth. A significant factor contributing to this success is the hard work of the school’s coaching team and the introduction of a new supplemental curriculum.
At Irene Reither Elementary, coaching involves every teacher being observed at least once every two weeks by a coach. The coaching team includes specialists Holly Li, Jen Anderson, Twan Mathijssen, and teacher on special assignment Rebecca Kratzig. Their involvement ensures that teachers are not working in isolation but have the support and partnership needed to succeed.
“Our coaching program has been instrumental in this success. By providing continuous support and feedback, we’ve created an environment where teachers can thrive and students can excel,” said Dockins. “The collaboration between coaches and teachers has truly made a difference.”
Coaches meet once per week as the Instructional Leadership Team. During these meetings, they calibrate and refine their practices, solve problems of practice and review student work.
The coaching strategy has been instrumental in the implementation of new lessons and curricula, such as the University of Florida Literacy Institute’s (UFLI) phonics program. This curriculum provides a systematic approach to phonics, helping students break down words into sounds and syllables. By understanding the specific sounds that each letter makes, students can decode words more effectively, which is essential for reading comprehension. Phonics instruction at Irene Reither Elementary develops phonemic (distinguishing sounds) and phonological (understanding word sounds) awareness.
These skills are crucial for K-2 students, laying the foundation for fluent reading. As students practice decoding, they read more fluently, focusing on comprehension. The early literacy team plays a key role in this success. Student improvement has been so significant that other school districts have visited IRE to learn from and emulate their approach.
“Seeing other school districts visit us to learn from our approach is incredibly rewarding. It shows that our methods are not only effective but also inspiring others to strive for similar success,” Dockins said. The combination of regular assessments, dedicated coaching and a robust phonics curriculum has resulted in exceptional reading growth.