Manheim Central Students in Grades K-12 to Participate in Independent Reading Initiative
The wise and well known children’s author, Dr. Suess, once said, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go!” The Manheim Central School District’s Middle and High Schools will join the Elementary Schools by kicking off a new, independent reading framework where students in grades fifth thorugh twelfth will be spending time reading at their identified instructional levels for 30 minutes throughout the day beginning in the 2018-2019 school year. During the reading time, teachers will meet with students in order to help each learner with specific skills and strategies that they can use to move their reading to the next level.
Both Doe Run and HC Burgard have been using a tool called the IRLA (Independent Reading Leveling Assessment) to diagnose the level of reading for a student. ELA and Special Education teachers in middle and high school will be trained in May to use the same assessment tool in order to identify each student’s independent reading level and then to be able to pinpoint what each child will need to do to move their reading skills to the next level.
In addition to the in class reading component, there is a critical home reading connection. Students will be bringing home books tailored to thier individual independent reading level to read for a minimum of 15 minutes, which equals one step, per night. Adults in the home serve as reading coaches or models for students as needed. Students will have take-home cards that will also communicate to the parent or guardian exactly what it is that a student needs to work on in order to move to the next reading level. It is the mission of the Manheim Central School District "To Prepare Responsible Citizens for Lifelong Learning." Part of that goal is ensuring that our students are able to read proficiently and on grade level when they graduate ready to pursue college or embark on a career in the workforce. We are working hard to instill this culture of reading so that it permeates our classrooms throughout the district. Our students deserve it so that they are equipped for future success!
