Rejuvenating Reading at our School on FIRE--Success with our Warriors in the 8th Grade

The ability to read is critical for the success of all students.  Eminence strives daily to provide more meaningful reading experiences for our students.  Last summer we took the opportunity to implement a new idea that seems to have made a positive impact on our students motivating them to read more for the enjoyment of reading versus an accumulation of points.  Our focus on success has required us to reflect on our current practice and make necessary adjustment to continually improve the Warrior educational experience within FIRE (Framework of Innovation to Reinvent Education). 

Mrs. Jennifer Montgomery, our Rockstar 7^th and 8^th grade teacher wrote the information below to share with you some of the background ideas, implementation, and statistical results for you to review. 

EXCITEMENT

This past summer, Eminence 8^th graders took part in a reading program created by the school’s McKinney-Vento Coordinator. As a part of the program, students self-selected 5 books that looked interesting to them but were also in their lexile range (based on their most recent MAP reading scores), and one of those books was mailed to students throughout the summer about every 8 days.  Students who admitted to reading ANY of the books over the summer saw growth in their MAP reading scores when they took the MAP test the first week of August.

In an effort to continue this success, in August 7^th graders self-selected books in their lexile range and have been receiving a new book every few weeks since school started.  When these students took the MAP reading test in December, the results were astonishing: 80% saw an increase in their scores! While scores don’t mean everything and these students also received a lot of instruction between August and December, we can’t help but believe that their independent reading had a lot to do with their growth and success as well. Below are responses from 7^th grade students when asked about the project in an anonymous survey. 

Since this project, have your habits changed and are you more of a reader now, waiting to get the next book?

87% Yes, I can say that I honestly read more

At any point in this project, have you talked to a family member about a book or did they read a book with you?

            49% Yes

At any point during the day, other than language arts class, did you talk about the book you were reading to a friend or teacher?

74% Yes

Have you enjoyed getting to have your OWN books?

95% Yes

Do you feel like you will take your MAP assessment more seriously knowing that the data is used to determine your reading and comprehension level?

            40% I always take MAP seriously

            60% Yes, I will take MAP more seriously because I see the data is used to help me.

0% I will not take MAP seriously

List 5 adjectives that describe how this book initiative has made you feel about reading:

-       overwhelmed, jacked, happy, happy, happy

-       excited, flabbergasted, elated, happy, stoked

-       excited, happy, thrilled, stoked, joyful

-       excited, happy, jacked, surprised, speechless

Describe how receiving books that were self-selected and on your lexile level has helped you as a reader.

-       It helped me read in a fun way

-       It has made me read more types of books

-       I wasn’t overwhelmed by reading something too hard or too easy

-       The books I’ve gotten so far have helped me very much in reading and in being a better writer

-       It really inspired me to explore the world of books in a new way

-       They have helped me increase my reading times

This information will allow us to continue to grow our program and focus on the student needs and desires in regard to student reading supports.  It is amazing how being willing to take a risk and approach learning differently, has resulted in such an incredible change among our students in regard to reading. 

We hope that you will ask your son/daughter what books they have read lately and what they learned, enjoyed, and were surprised about in the books they have read.  It is a great way to open conversation with your child and build your relationship while supporting academics. 

We thank Jennifer Montgomery and Alethea Coffee for their passion to create this opportunity for our WARRIORS, implementing the program fully, and following through with data to hear student voice in the work.  Eminence is moving forward in many ways and this is one specific example that we hope you have enjoyed learning about and gives you more insight into the work we are doing as a School on FIRE!    

The Giving Warriors, Real Examples

There are many very special young ladies and gentlemen that attend Eminence Independent, one young lady that I have had the privilege to watch in action is Emily Coomes.  This young lady is an inspiration to me daily.  I often admire her tenacity, focus, and passion for service to others.  She is involved in numerous extracurricular activities including representing the Warriors on the Volleyball Team.  People who state that young people these days are self-centered and irresponsible; haven't visited Eminence Middle/High School, they would quickly see different here in this very special place.  Emily agreed to share about the experience she is having in a Kindergarten classroom.  Keep reading to read her written synopsis that describes her experience in this classroom and her desires for the future.  

"Recently, I have had the opportunity to work in Mrs. McMillian’s kindergarten class. While I do whatever she needs me to do, I mainly work with one particular special needs student. I help him write, complete work, understand what is happening and together we do, teach, and learn sign language. We have done the weekly sight words, the alphabet, and colors. Working with him has been a blessing. He has taught me just as much or more than I have taught him and more than just sign language. Being with the kindergarteners has shown me that teaching is the right department for me, and also opened my eyes to another field I want to pursue. I plan to attend a university with an elementary education major and either a minor or double major in American Sign Language."

Our children truly are our future and can change the world, I believe they will.  Yesterday we had 300+ students offer two hands to help beautify the city.  In two hours our students picked up 53 bags of garbage and were asking if we could do this regularly to help keep the city cleaner.  There were two middle school students who informed me that they were going home to clean their own subdivision streets as soon as they got home (they asked if they could have the two extra trash bags that we had not used while we were out).  Eminence residents should be proud of the students that attend school here, they have pride in this community are willing to make the community better, a mindset that most communities can only wish for...Eminence has achieved.  The Warrior Way is ALIVE and thriving!  

Thanks to Emily Coomes for her willingness to share a glimpse into her future desires and for inspiring those having the privilege to watch her on her journey.  Be proud Eminence!