09/16/03

     The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) continues its focus on literacy through the implementation of materials in English Language Arts. At each step in the six-year curriculum cycle, different curriculum areas go through an intensive review process which includes: program review, standards review/revision, instructional materials review/adoption, implementation, and assessment review/revision.

     Last year we were in the Pre-Implementation Training stage for English Language Arts which included professional development for teachers on standards-based curriculum, instructional strategies, and performance task assessments. Performance task assessments provide us with information on whether students are meeting and/or exceeding the standards. The standards tell us what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.

     This year we are in Step 5 of the curriculum cycle during which the curriculum and materials are fully implemented. Schools will be receiving replenishments for Literacy Place for elementary schools and The Language of Literature and The Elements of Writing for middle and high schools. At the elementary level professional development will focus on standards-based curriculum, grammar usage and mechanics (GUMS), guided reading, and balanced literacy. At the secondary level professional development will center on standards-based curriculum, balanced literacy, and performance tasks and assessments.

     Our goal of highest student achievement is the impetus for us to look at best practices for insuring that all students succeed. As a result last year we introduced the Read 180 program, an optional high school support class designed to provide students scoring below the 25th percentile on our standardized, systemwide TerraNova assessment with strategies for improving reading achievement. This year all middle schools are introducing the Read 180 program to assist below grade-level readers.

     New also this year is the English Language Arts lab class. This class is designed to assist high school students whose TerraNova scores fall between the 25th to 50th percentile. The goal of this course is to improve the reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills of students who are not achieving at grade level.

     With the start of school in September, there is a national focus on literacy. On September 8th International Literacy Day was celebrated, highlighting the importance of reading from a multicultural perspective. September is also National Library Card Sign-Up month, established to ensure annually that all children have library cards. I encourage parents, teachers and students to take advantage of this month’s focus on literacy, visit their base libraries and investigate the wide range of multicultural literature available.

Nancy C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS Pacific