Our theme, DoDEA Reads
A Message from the Director, DoDDS Pacific

          This year the theme for our school system is DoDEA Reads. This theme is particularly important at this time because Reading First is among the major national initiatives being implemented as part of the President's No Child Left Behind Act. While test results tell us our DoDEA students read and write very well, we want students to understand that reading is a passport to an infinite variety of experiences within the classroom. Reading also opens the door to endless opportunities outside of school that contribute to an active, successful life. Promoting literacy skills is an important component of the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan, Goal 1, Highest Student Achievement.

          DoDDS Pacific is committed to building a strong foundation in our youngest readers in order to ensure reading success through elementary, middle and high school. Our ultimate goal is for students to be able to apply their reading skills in all content areas. In alignment with our curriculum development cycle, the revised English Language Arts standards will be introduced to administrators, teachers and parents. The standards serve as the basis for teachers in selecting and using curriculum materials as well as in planning and delivering instruction. In our elementary schools the Development Reading Assessment (DRA) will be used to measure proficiency at the end of the third grade. The information gained from these results will help teachers individualize instruction to insure students are becoming proficient readers. In our high schools, we are providing new reading support classes for students who may benefit from additional instruction in reading strategies.

          We believe that reading enriches students' lives and is essential to our attainment of Goal 1 in the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan. Research tells us that the more students read, the better readers they become. With students, teachers, and parents working together, we can all make a difference in helping children learn and achieve.

          September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, established by joint resolution of Congress as an annual reminder to ensure that all children have library cards. This is a great time to promote reading and family reading activities. I envision us being able to localize our DoDEA theme in every Pacific district and school. With your support of our focus on reading, let's make our theme DoDDS Pacific Reads!

Nancy C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS Pacific