Published in the March 2-15, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Daryton Ramsey
Daryton Ramsey
“Educate, inspire and empower each El Toro scholar.”
These words reflect the ever-present mission of each and every El Toro Elementary School educator. Our teachers and staff have embraced our responsibility in ensuring each and every scholar receives personalized learning opportunities to address individual needs. Our learning community accomplishes our mission by unequivocally adhering to our pillars of “right work”:
• Focusing on high level learning for each student
• Engaging in ongoing professional learning through building a collaborative culture
• Focusing on positive student learning outcome data through analysis and instructional transfer
Our El Toro scholars are living in a world where information is ubiquitous and they are expected to effectively apply, evaluate and synthesize this information in a way that is useful and serves a purpose.
At the core of this expectation is the most vital skill a student can develop and the best predictor of student educational success — reading skills. To this end, we have created a targeted and systematic approach to supporting our students in meeting and exceeding their grade level reading proficiency expectations.
Our reading program employs a blended approach which consist of the following student learning opportunities:
Lexia Reading Core 5 — A technology-based and personalized-learning opportunity designed to enable advanced students to accelerate beyond their grade level and for emerging students to self-pace and receive the support and intervention they need.
Achieve 3000 — A blended-learning and differentiated literacy program targeted toward reading comprehension and writing about non-fiction grade level text.
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment, Guided Reading and Leveled Literacy Intervention System — A reading system focused on identifying student reading levels, delivering small group reading skills instruction and providing intense individualized instruction for low achieving readers.
Educator Expertise — Teachers utilize their expertise to design different reading lessons, targeted formative assessments and instructional schedules to maximize student learning.
The development and implementation of these reading programs has produced excellent preliminary results.
Students have achieved one to two reading level gains and acceleration beyond grade levels. As an example, two third graders started the Lexia program and accelerated and mastered fifth grade reading skills.
These students engaged in the Lexia program on a daily basis and worked to accomplish each level. They are now primed to move forward to Achieve 3000 and extend their skills to critical complex reading comprehension and writing.
This reading success story is just one of many occurring by design at El Toro Elementary School.
Everyday, teachers and students partner in the process and experience moment-to-moment successes culminating in student reading achievement. These exceptional outcomes are characteristic of the high academic expectations we strive for in the El Toro learning community.
The commitment of our scholars, staff and parents is constantly on display, guiding our efforts to deliver the high quality education our scholars deserve.
In the final analysis, we are privileged to serve with our El Toro scholars as well as our El Toro community.
Our goals are simple:
• Provide high level learning opportunities for each El Toro scholar
• Promote ongoing professional learning through building a collaborative culture
• Foster positive student learning outcomes by analyzing data and transferring the analysis into effective instruction
We envision — and we work for — the moments when our students are confidently reading, critically thinking, collaborating, creating and communicating.
When this time comes we will stand with grand smiles and proud hearts and simply say, “Mission accomplished!”
El Toro Elementary School is where students are educated, inspired and empowered.
Daryton Ramsey is the principal of El Toro Elementary School in Morgan Hill. He wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
