Powering UP! Saturday Super Reader Academy
Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
Columbus City Schools
Second Presenter's Institution
Columbus City Schools
Third Presenter's Institution
NA
Fourth Presenter's Institution
NA
Fifth Presenter's Institution
NA
Location
Session 5 (Ballroom E)
Strand #1
Academic Achievement & School Leadership
Strand #2
Social & Emotional Skills
Relevance
Columbus City Schools third-grade students who had not yet met the proficient score on the Third Grade Ohio State Test were invited to attend the second annual Saturday Super Reader Academy. The Academy was held over four consecutive categories from 9:00am – 11:00am in 5 regional locations across the district. Our Saturday Super Reader Academy provided third graders with the opportunity for additional instruction in reading and writing to help them prepare for the Spring Ohio State Test in English Language Arts. Throughout the Super Hero themed Academy, students work at their independent reading level as well as with grade-level material, practice test-type writing, and take online practice assessments. Each week, students receive a new reading super power, take home the Guided Reading book they worked with and a bookmark of suggested activities for sharing the book with family and friends. On the last Saturday, each student receives their own Super Reader cape and mask and a certificate confirming their Super Reader Status. This program empowers students and engages family in a manner that is fun and collaborative. Students feel good about their work and leave each day with a new “power” feeling confident and proud.
The Saturday Academy program speaks to student achievement, as well as, student and family empowerment.
Brief Program Description
Columbus City Schools third-grade students who had not yet met the proficient score on the Third Grade Ohio State Test were invited to attend the second annual Saturday Super Reader Academy. The Academy was held over four consecutive categories from 9:00am – 11:00am in 5 regional locations across the district. Our Saturday Super Reader Academy provided third graders with the opportunity for additional instruction in reading and writing to help them prepare for the Spring Ohio State Test in English Language Arts. Throughout the Super Hero themed Academy, students work at their independent reading level as well as with grade-level material, practice test-type writing, and take online practice assessments. Each week, students receive a new reading super power, take home the Guided Reading book they worked with and a bookmark of suggested activities for sharing the book with family and friends. On the last Saturday, each student receives their own Super Reader cape and mask and a certificate confirming their Super Reader Status. This program empowers students and engages family in a manner that is fun and collaborative. Students feel good about their work and leave each day with a new “power” feeling confident and proud.
Summary
As the largest school district in Ohio with a 100% Free/Reduced Lunch designation we strive to provide opportunities to extend student learning outside of the walls and hours of the school day. During our session 90 Minute session we will share the strategies, templates and resources we utilized to design, develop, and implement the Saturday Super Reader program. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with our digital tools as well as interact with a variety of resources that were utilized. At the conclusion of the presentation participants will leave with the program manual, templates for the certificates, bookmarks and a list of resources to support the program.
Evidence
The Saturday Super Reader Program is based on the Balanced Literacy approach. We utilized a combination of reading workshop and writers workshop along with a digital test prep program to provide access to grade level text in the testing environment the 3rd graders will experience during the Spring Assessment. Of the students that attend the Saturday Academy 89% met or exceeded the promotion score on the state assessment to move on the the 4th grade.
Biographical Sketch
Leslie Kelly as been with the Columbus City School District as the Director of Curriculum for the past five years. As a 24 year educator she as has served many roles such as, teacher, assistant principal, STEM Director, Principal, professional development facilitator, advisory board member, etc. In her current roll she oversees Curriculum and Instruction for 109 schools, as well as, Library Media Services.
Amber Bernal is in her 25th year as an Elementary Teacher for the largest school district in Ohio. During this time, she has taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. She then spent 3 years as a Literacy Collaborative Instructional Coach and Reading Recovery teacher. This is her third year as a district Curriculum Coordinator where she supports our 75 Elementary buildings.
Keyword Descriptors
Literacy, Reading, Empower, Elementary, Assessment
Presentation Year
March 2019
Start Date
3-5-2019 10:15 AM
End Date
3-5-2019 11:30 AM
Recommended Citation
Kelly, Leslie and Bernal, Amber, "Powering UP! Saturday Super Reader Academy" (2019). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 45.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2019/2019/45
Powering UP! Saturday Super Reader Academy
Session 5 (Ballroom E)
Columbus City Schools third-grade students who had not yet met the proficient score on the Third Grade Ohio State Test were invited to attend the second annual Saturday Super Reader Academy. The Academy was held over four consecutive categories from 9:00am – 11:00am in 5 regional locations across the district. Our Saturday Super Reader Academy provided third graders with the opportunity for additional instruction in reading and writing to help them prepare for the Spring Ohio State Test in English Language Arts. Throughout the Super Hero themed Academy, students work at their independent reading level as well as with grade-level material, practice test-type writing, and take online practice assessments. Each week, students receive a new reading super power, take home the Guided Reading book they worked with and a bookmark of suggested activities for sharing the book with family and friends. On the last Saturday, each student receives their own Super Reader cape and mask and a certificate confirming their Super Reader Status. This program empowers students and engages family in a manner that is fun and collaborative. Students feel good about their work and leave each day with a new “power” feeling confident and proud.
