Kindergarteners need to know their letters better

By Danielle Strenke
Principals and directors of each North Branch school facility presented outcomes of goals set for the 2001-02 school year to the North Branch School Board last Thursday.
Specific goals were set for each grade level, kindergarten through fifth, and collective goals for middle school and high school students. Goals were also assessed at the Alternative Learning Center (ALC).
Main St. School principal Sara Svir reviewed goals set for kindergartners and fourth graders at that school, as well as goals for first, second and third graders at the Primary School.
One goal under reading comprehension for kindergartners was to have at least 92 percent correctly identify all the upper case letters. Only 44 percent could correctly identify all the upper case letters. Even fewer could identify lower case letters.
Students in grades 1 through 4, however, met or exceeded virtually every site goal.
Several other specific outcomes at the kindergarten level came up short of the goals, but Svir said it isnít something that canít be improved.
ìWe know exactly where the problem lies and we just have to make sure we go back and re-teach all of this,î she said.
ìWhat is the problem and how will you correct it?î board member Donna Setter asked.
Svir said the scores coming out of one classroom for both reading and math were considerably lower than the other six, and it was a matter of working with that teacher for the 2002-03 school year.
ìObviously something isnít being done, so weíll be working with that individual and getting help in the classroom,î Svir said.
Middle school principal Jan Ashlin presented a report of site goals for the middle school.
Goals for that school were to implement graduation standards for communications and math and teaching appropriate behaviors such as school attendance, volunteering and engaging in classroom activities.
She told the board the school will be offering honors English to sixth-graders this year. Last year, it was offered only to seventh- and eighth-graders.
Setter asked how many students take part in after-school tutoring. ìThe turnout is pretty low,î Ashlin said. ìProbably the major issue there is transportation.î
She said the Power Math program has been very successful. It is geared toward students who score below the 40th percentile on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) but do not receive special education. The school also offers a Power Reading program.
Lori Zimmerman, director of the ALC, said she was pleased with the progress the center made this year in developing a strategic plan.
She said through the process, the volunteer committee came up with strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the program.
The most significant weakness and threat viewed was the negative image most people have of ALC. ìWeíre hoping to work on the negative perception,î Zimmerman said. ìWeíve done the ëPark Ití program working at the state park, and we need to be out there more. There is not a kid there that I can say I donít like,î she said.
The school also provided distance learning for 120 home-schooled and 13 home-bound students last year.
After receiving the reports on site goals, the board set budget work sessions. The first will be Thursday, Aug. 22, 6:30 p.m. If needed, additional sessions will be Thursday, Sept. 5 and Monday, Sept. 9.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com