All the grade schools in Carbon School District have been utilizing a new reading basal this year, but each school also has some twists on the program.
At Creekview Elementary, Principal John Thomas is high on the idea of “flooding” students with reading this year.
“One thing we have done that I think is unique on this program is we take each grade level and each of those have a half an hour where everyone reads,” said Thomas. “We call it flood. The aides, staff members from the library and everywhere come in and we divide students up into their ability levels and they all read for that time.”
The reading consists of quiet reading, group reading and even reading to the students by staff members who are leading the session. The leader reading to students helps with fluency and sound.
“The younger students use flash cards with words for some of their reading,” said Thomas. “Kindergarten and first grade students are still doing the basics. Sometimes older students also do a writing project based on what they read.”
The point is to get everyone on grade level as far as reading goes. The district is using a program that uses A to Z reading levels, a measurement tool that utilizes thousands of books so students will have things to read that interests them.
Research shows that a previous way of teaching students to read and grow, by giving them material to master that is above their level, does not produce growth but does increase frustration.
In the case of the new levels program, the students can read all they want at their own level and eventually they will grow into higher levels as their interests evolve.
Thomas said another important part of the reading has been Mont Harmon Middle School and Carbon High students from the Latino Club coming to the school and reading with the kids once a week.
“The teachers who utilized these students helping with reading have seen real benefits from the effort,” said Thomas.
The school also holds an English as a Second Language family night three times a year. That program includes people from all over Carbon School District. The next and final one for the year is on May 3.
Thomas said students and staff are looking forward to April 12, which will be the school’s family engineering night. That night is held each year to showcase Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) projects the students have been working on throughout the year. Creekview is a recognized STEM school and works toward connecting all those disciplines.
“Our gifted and talented students have been producing videos, both in filming and editing them,” said Thomas. “When we took those students to the Day on the Hill at the Utah State Capitol Building we intended on showing those then but the WiFi in the building was being used so heavily they wouldn’t load. Our students will be demonstrating those.”
There will also be other projects like robotics and other STEM related projects the school has been working on. A guest speaker will also demonstrate a special way of making ice cream based on chemistry.
Thomas said another important project that has gone on this year is the NBA Math Hoops challenge that has been used in the after school program (Rising Raptors) which is run by Jimmy Parker.
NBA Math Hoops is a fast-paced basketball board game, curriculum, and community program that allows students to learn fundamental math skills through direct engagement with real statistics of their favorite NBA and WNBA players.
The NBA Math Hoops curriculum is tied to Core State Standards and 21st Century Learning Skills, and it has been shown to improve students’ basic math skills and understanding of statistics, in addition to their interpersonal skills, pushing them towards collaborating effectively with other students.
“On March 6 the students that were involved went to Vivint Arena and they participated in an exercise with students from other places in the state,” said Thomas. “After that event the students got to see the arena. The next day Disney on Ice was going to start so they showed the students how the arena creates the ice and sets things up for that event.”
A big project that has been going on since the holiday break is a fish tank that has been installed in the library where the school is raising fish to be planted in one of the local fishing ponds in the county.
It is a STEM project sponsored by the Division of Wildlife Resources and Trout Unlimited. Former teacher at the school, Leigh Ludington, is the primary person working with students on it, and a number of fourth grade classes participate in things associated with the tank.
One of the projects was for the students to discover, through the scientific method, what kinds of materials would insulate the tank the best to keep the heat in. Charts dot the halls with students’ names and groups who have experimented with everything from tin foil to wood to achieve the goal. The charts list the temperatures before insulation of sample tests and after.
The students are fascinated by the fish, which are now only about a half an inch long, but by release time this spring will have grown to about two inches. Students will go in groups over to the Fairgrounds Fish Pond to release the fish on May 23.
Flood—of reading—carries away Creekview students
Students from the Mont Harmon-Carbon High Latino Club pose for a photo after one of their sessions helping students at Creekview with their reading skills.