Hurlbutt Elementary School supports each child's literacy growth and development. Unlike talking and walking, reading is not a hardwired part of human development. It is a complex, LEARNED process. As such, reading develops at different rates and at different times for young children. Regardless of where a child is in their reading development, each child is a reader and we are here to help foster and support a growing love of reading.
Three times a year (in October, February and June), our Hurlbutt's Reading Data Team meets to analyze and discuss current reading performance data on ALL of our students. The Reading Data Team members include our building administration, school psychologists, reading teachers, special education teachers, the curriculum instructional leader for reading, and a speech and language pathologist.
Our team makes data driven decisions regarding students' current reading performance and make collaborative recommendations for: closely monitoring student progress for a finite amount of time with instructional strategies shared with the classroom teacher; beginning, continuing or dismissing a student from an intervention program or programs; and exiting a student from progress monitoring.
Reading Intervention programs target instruction in phonics/word work, oral reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Ongoing progress is monitored and performance data is gathered on each student receiving an intervention every two weeks.
Classroom teachers call parents to discuss the Reading Data Team's recommendations for intervention services.
Additionally, classroom teachers may request to meet with our reading teachers to discuss any area of concern with a student in regard to reading growth and proficiency. Teachers bring current reading performance data and share strategies for differentiated instruction that has been implemented, as well as how well the student has responded to this instruction. Short-term goals and strategies are collaboratively created and a follow-up meeting is set. The classroom teacher implements the strategies and monitors the student's progress toward mastering the goals. On or before the follow-up meeting, changes to instruction will be made to ensure adequate, ongoing reading growth and development.