‘ Learning new words ’ CMS puts focus on English , reading
Thawng Thang loves to read books about science . The student at Independence High recently was engrossed in “ The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks ” during Silent Sustained Reading in Kristen Fox ’ s English II class .
“ It helps me learn English a lot better ,” said the 10th-grader , whose first language is Burmese . “ My stamina is getting better for taking tests and I ’ m learning new words .”
The book is part of a set of novels – 30 titles , 150 copies – that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools provided to each of its high school English classrooms last year and refreshed this year . The collection is just one of the tools the district is using to increase literacy and strengthen test scores .
Students in North Carolina take tests at the end of the year to determine academic progress . Elementary and middle school students take End-of-Grade ( EOG ) tests . High school students and some middle school students take End-of-Course ( EOC ) tests . In the 2013-2014 school year , the state began using a five-level scoring system that measures not only whether a student can do grade-level work but also if that student is on track to be prepared for college or career . Students are tested in multiple subjects .
CMS has increased the focus on reading after seeing a decline in English II EOC scores to 60.9 percent from 64.4 percent a year earlier in grade-level proficiency . In English II , college and career readiness scores also declined to 52.7 from 54.2 a year earlier .
Although CMS students nonetheless outperformed the state average for English II in both categories , district leaders are not satisfied .
“ The district has a multifaceted plan in place to support good teaching and continued improvement in English II scores ,” said Chuck Nusinov , CMS executive director for learning and teaching .
The plan includes more training for teachers using classes , book studies , webinars and other supports . English I and II teachers are trained together in a daylong class to align teacher-created and vetted lesson plans and provide students with two years of instruction to master the Common Core skills required to pass the English II EOC , said Roxanne Friday ,
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English curriculum specialist . Other training opportunities include monthly classes for teachers of English I and II , and for teachers who have fewer than five years of experience .
CMS also has a number of tools in place to help students engage with text and become literate . These include Read & Write for Google and targeted Blendspace units that provide extra supports for Exceptional Children .
In-class book collections give students choices for self-selected reading but are also broad enough to give them choices for use in other English II units .
“ The hope is they are supplementing what they learn in class ,” Friday said . “ You don ’ t get better at riding a bicycle by watching the Tour de France . You get better at reading by reading .”
Fox , the Independence teacher , said her students talk to each other about their books and will read selections that other students have said they love .
“ I have had students read one of the books from the 30-book library and ask me if I can help them get the rest of the books in the series ,” Fox said . “ I love it when a book talk begins with , ‘ I usually don ’ t like to read but this book ... ‘”
Parent Teacher Magazine • January / February 2017 • 5