Two Anoka-Hennepin students named
National Merit Scholarship finalists
Kari Xiong honored as
‘Rising Star’ in public service
Anoka-Hennepin earns national
acclaim, named to AP’s ‘honor roll’
New school lunch recipes face
tough critics: students
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FOCUS
ANOKA
-
HENNEPIN
SCHOOL
ON ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOLS
Reading Wonders: Anoka-Hennepin excited
to launch new elementary literacy curriculum
DISTRICT
SPRING 2016
Preparing students
for life: it takes all
of us
By Superintendent
David Law
When asked
to describe
our purpose
as a school
system, I realize there may
be a different
answer for each of our students.
In fact, our success as a school
system depends on it.
In Anoka-Hennepin schools,
we take the position that it is
not our place to determine
the future for our students,
but rather to create an environment where each student
is able to make choices to
realize their dreams.
In March, Anoka-Hennepin's School Board approved the purchase of Reading Wonders, a new, modern and innovative elementary literacy
curriculum. Reading Wonders will be fully implemented at all Anoka-Hennepin elementary schools when school starts in the fall.
When school starts this fall, Anoka-Hennepin’s elementary
school students will have a new and exciting way to learn
reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary and other literacy skills.
In March, the district concluded a years-long effort to revamp
its English language arts (ELA) curriculum for elementary schoolaged students when the School Board approved the purchase
and implementation of Reading Wonders, an innovative and
modern way to teach the gamut of elementary literacy skills,
developed by education publisher McGraw Hill.
“It’s hard to stress how exciting this change is going to be,
not only for students and staff, but parents too,” said Mary
Wolverton, the district’s associate superintendent for elementary
education. “It’s a big deal and we think students, staff and
parents are going to love it.”
There’s concrete support for that optimism. During this school
year, Reading Wonders was piloted in 44 elementary classrooms
across the district. And not only was the vote for a new ELA curriculum almost unanimous among the teachers who participated,
but most of the teachers who used Reading Wonders liked it so
much, they asked for a waiver to use it for the remainder of the
school year.
Great for students
The biggest difference, which is also most important for
students, is that the new curriculum is fully integrated and
collaborative, according to Laura Bratland, and Debra Day,
teaching and learning specialists for elementary literacy.
“What that means is students who are in a class together,
with Reading Wonders, they’re reading the same content no
matter their reading ability,” Day said. “So students at different
ability levels can participate through collaborative conversations
and learn from each other.”
And it all goes much beyond reading, according to Bratland.
“We’re talking about spelling, vocabulary and writing, too,” she
said. “It’s all embedded in the text of what is being covered,
so, for example, there are authentic ways for students to learn
the spelling and vocabulary lessons because it’s all right there
in what they’re reading. It’s all built together.”
continued on page 6
Save the date
Anoka-Hennepin School District Job Fair
Wednesday, July 27
Educational Service Center • 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303
www.anoka.k12.mn.us/jobfair
Employment groups:
• Community Education
• School age child care
• Food service
• Custodians
• Bus drivers
• Secretaries
• Paraeducators
• Substitutes
• Full-time teachers
Our schools are focused on
developing a foundation in
reading, math and science
that all students need, along
with providing wide-ranging
elective offerings to meet
their interests. On the journey, students are developing
citizenship, artistic talents,
leadership, self-confidence
and other positive attributes.
In short, our schools focus
on preparing students for life.
In just a few weeks, our
district will be sending nearly
3,000 high school seniors on
to their next phase in life. In
a survey of last year’s graduating seniors, 92 percent
indicated they’re pursuing
post-secondary education,
with a full 76 percent looking
continued on page 2
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