GOALS 2000 QUARTERLY REPORT

LEA Jefferson County Project Name Project Second Helping

Project Contact Darla Lewis Date of Report April 7, 2000

Please answer the following questions in as much detail as possible.

You may use attachments.

1. Using specifics, compare your timeline and benchmarks in the grant to what is actually occurring in your project.

This year continues to go well. The students are on track with the goals that have been set for them. The timeline indicates the following things to be accomplished during the months of January-March:

1.) The STAR (Standardized Assessment of Reading) is administered to assess each student’s progress.

2.) The review committee reconvenes to discuss each child’s progress.

3.) The class will make web pages addressing books that they would recommend other students to read.

4.) The students will begin to participate in online projects related to reading.

We have accomplished all of these task during this time frame. The children were given the STAR test at the end of the third six weeks grading period.

*Attachment One is the testing results for the STAR.

By looking at the results from this test, it shows that there are gains being made by all the students. It indicated that some students were not progressing as well as I would expect by this point of the year. I have made referrals for these children to be tested further to our school HELP team. This is a group of teachers (which includes: the class teacher, the speech and language pathologist, the resource teacher and the guidance counselor) that discuss possible testing to decide if there is a learning disability. This will also help the child next year by pin pointing the problem of the child so that modifications and recommendations for next year’s teacher can be made.

The review committee (which consist of our assistant principal, our speech and language pathologist, a first grade teacher and myself) have not met as a group, however I have discussed with each of them the progress that is being made in our class. I also shared the STAR results with them and we discussed the children who would benefit by being referred to the HELP team.

We have been working on our class web page. The students have enjoyed these activities very much. They have written stories about themselves, as well as built web pages that tell about books that they like to read. Our class site may be visited by going to http://www.geocities.com/descubs/. In order to get to the pages about the books we have read, you must go to the home page. Here you will find a link that says Books You Must Check Out. By clicking onto this link, it will take you to the books we have read and built pages for so far. The students were paired up and we read the books together. They then had to work on a book report form that we had made together in Microsoft Word.

*Attachment two is a copy of that form.

After they filled out the information for the book, they then went to the computer. They put the information about their book onto the web page. After that they looked on the Internet for pictures to insert. They used search engines such as askjeevesforkids.com, altavista.com and excite.com. They had fun doing this. I then helped them save the picture that they wanted for their web page and then we inserted them into their page. This was a real learning experience for them. We will continue to build to this site.

During the month of March we continued to work on our web page, however we also started discussing what kind of project that we would like to do on the Internet. One project that we decided to sign up for was It’s A Small World Project. This will enable us to video conference with other classes around the world. We did try video conferencing at the end of January and the first of February with a fifth grade class in our county. The children had a wonderful time talking with the fifth graders. They shared their hairless rat with us over the TV screen. My students laughed and laughed. All of these experiences have really helped my students to build their vocabulary. They have learned for different places and people. We plan on doing more of this as the rest of the year proceeds. We also have applied for a Pet Exchange Partner, however have had no luck with getting one. We hope to hear for one within the next week. This will enable the students to keep a journal while being responsible for caring for a pet for an evening. I think my students will enjoy it. We continue to visit with friend via e-mail in all different parts of the world such as: South Carolina, Holland, Texas and schools in our county. We have also been chatting with another class in our school via ICQ. The typing is slow at times and the vocabulary is very limited because of spelling, but it is a good experience.

2. What progress have you made toward reaching the objectives and goals that you set in your proposal?

The following are the goals stated in Project Second Helping:

1.) help students to read on grade level

2.) provide instructions strategies, individual tutoring and technological interventions to meet the needs of the students

3.) provide a web site to promote reading strategies and global communication

4.) provide the opportunity for students to utilize multimedia creative software and the phonemic approach to reading in order to motivate students who are not motivated by conventional methods

5.) help parents to become involved with students reading progress on a daily bases

The main goal of this class is to get students on grade level in reading. The students are getting closer to that goal each day. I have watched children who read with no confidence at all become a student who can pick up book within their reading range and read it. By providing individual tutoring each day, with the help of a teaching assistant as well as class volunteers, students are getting closer to the goal of reading on grade level. Each student is provided thirty minutes of individual tutoring each day. By using informal reading inventories, we have assessed where each child is individually. The assistant or volunteer works on specific needs each day. Through Project Second Helping web site it was expected that educators would come here to access the projects, writings and book reviews of our students. As stated in question one, the whole world can visit our class anytime of the day. The students have a very positive attitude about school now. My attendance record for my class is very good because the students are so excited about school. This Project has made a difference in their lives. The goal for Project Second Helping was to motivate students who are not motivated by conventional methods. My students are motivated. The software provided for this class in wonderful and has help to bring students closer to reading on level. Some of the programs that we use on a weekly bases are: Leap into Phonics, Phonics B and C, Read, Write and Type, Listening Library and Reading Rabbit's Interactive Journey. Many of my students have mastered the first level on most of these programs and have moved to the second level. By providing workshops for parents once a month, it has given us wonderful parent support with my students. I have had 85% attendance at all parent meetings and calls from those who did not attend. The parents read with their children every night and send in signed homework each day. I believe that the parent involvement with my student have also been a key in the success of my students.

3. What progress has been made toward the National Goal or Goals as you presented in your proposal?

The National Goal that this project addresses is improve student achievement through the use of technology as a tool to enhance the reading curriculum. As stated in the previous question, I feel that this goal is being met.

The Tennessee Frameworks Standard that was stated in the Project Second Helping proposal stated: that in the area of Reading K-2 The student will develop the reading skills necessary for word recognition, comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation and appreciation of the written text. We continue to meet this standard by using the Accelerated Reading Program each day. By visiting our class web page, the results of this program may be viewed. This program provides the opportunity for the student to work on his or her own level and pace. It also addresses the are of comprehension. By Using the STAR test it helps to assess what level the student is on. After that ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development) has been established the students starts at that level and works on building it to the next level. As stated in Attachment One, all of my students have progress because of the Accelerated Reading Program. As far as analysis, evaluation and appreciation of the written test is address, we have done that by our book reviews. These also may be viewed on our class web page. I know that my students enjoyed doing this and will continue to do it throughout the rest of the year.

4. At this point, how is the Goals 2000 funding positively affecting the education of the children in your county?

Words really can not express how wonderful this project has been for the students involved. This really is an elite group of children who have been provided the opportunity of a lifetime. Because of Goals 2000 funding, students are succeeding, parents are involved in student learning and our county has been provided equipment that will last for years that will enable students to continue learning on and on. I have been so proud of this project and I know that it will continue to provide a better education to the students of Jefferson County.

5. Describe some great happenings concerning your project. Please send any articles or documentation to us for our files

I think one of the best things that has been happening this quarter, has been the work on our class web page. I have enjoyed working and watching my students work on this. I have also enjoyed watching them use the Grolier Encyclopedia Program this quarter. They love to show me what they have found. We have also started an end of the year project call RACE TO THE FINISH in Accelerated Reading. The students are working as a class to meet goals. They are presently at 298.6 points in AR as a class. We have a goal of 500 points by the end of the year. We still have nine weeks and I think we will get close to this goal. They will be rewarded at 50 point intervals. Such as: for 300 ice cream treat for everyone, 350-hat day and ice cream treat, 400- game and toy day, 450- play day outside with a picnic and if we meet the 500 point goal we will go have the newspaper come to take our picture and take a field trip to McDonalds. Hopefully we will meet these goals. I think we are all very happy this year. I know that this has been the hardest and yet most rewarding year of my career.

*Attachment One

Star Test Results

Students	Date	Grade Equivalent	Date	Grade Equivalent
Dani	09/16/99	0.9	02/03/00	1.8
Shane	09/16/99	1.3	02/03/00	1.8
Brandon	09/16/99	1.3	02/03/00	1.4
Austin	09/16/99	1.3	02/03/00	1.8
Natalie	09/16/99	1.4	02/03/00	1.7
Ryan	09/16/99	0.9	02/03/00	1.3
Danny	09/16/99	0.8	02/03/00	1.4
Alexa	09/16/99	1.3	02/03/00	2.4
Colin	09/16/99	1.8	02/03/00	2.3
Tyler	09/16/99	1	02/03/00	1.3
Cheyenne	09/16/99	1.2	02/03/00	1.8
Jesse	09/16/99	0.9	02/03/00	1.7

*Attachment Two

Book Review Worksheet

Names:____________________________________________

Title of Your Book______________________________________________________

Who is the Author?______________________________________________________

Who is the Illustrator?_____________________________________________________

Who is (are) the main character(s) of the book?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What happened in the book?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I (We) think this is a _________________ book?

Do you think that other second graders would like to read this book? _______________________________________________________________________

When you complete this report, bring it to me and we will work on your web page together.

Rules for doing this project:

1.) Take turns reading the book. If you need help, ask an adult.

2.) Think about the main characters in the book while you read. What are they doing?

3.) Talk to your partner about the pictures in the book.

4.) If you need help with spelling when doing your report, use your book first, then ask an adult if you can not find what you need.

5.) Have a good time, however, use quiet voices.