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SD Updates

Page history last edited by Mr. Hernandez 11 years ago

 

 

 

This area describes program implementation of our districts.  We believe that 'change is a constant' and we endeavour to support our students in many ways. 

 


Burnaby SD41 Update (2012-2013):   Our transition to an online platform this year has offered flexibility in how we are able to include more school sites. Upgrades to our infrastructure is ongoing especially at all the elementary sites.  This year, we are able to increase opportunities to a total of 25 sites (including 5 secondary), up from 11.  Students are enrolled in various programs (depending on individual learner profiles), which may include Fast ForWord, Reading Levels or a combination.  In addition, a couple of sites are working on Reading Assistant.  An ongoing support system of professional development for both teachers, administrators, educational assistants is a district focus. Included in this is our blog (http://blogs.sd41.bc.ca/fastforword), which provides ongoing information on (local) administration setup, progress monitoring and live webinar support.  We also rely on strong district Learning Technologies and Learning Support Services teams to provide professional conversations and troubleshooting out in the field. 

 


Coquitlam SD43 Update (2012-2013):  

Coquitlam transitioned to the online MyScilearn format last summer.  This year, our district is piloting the program in several new sites: 2 elemetary, 4 middle schools and 3 high schools.  Further, we have purchased a set of Reading Assistant licenses which provides more options for optimizing students' learning. Our mission is to provide specialized services to increase success for a diversity of learners. 


New Westminster SD update for November, 2012:  This year New Westminster is transitioning all sites to the online platform as well. We currently have 2 elementary schools using myscilearn as well as 2 alternate programs. We are hoping to have all our sites on myscilearn by the end of the school year. New Westminster has Fast ForWord labs in 2 middle schools, the one high school in the District, 3 elementary schools, and 3 alternate programs. Students who have a learning disability and have been struggling in their past English classes, as well as our Aboriginal students have been given priority. ELL students who are level 2.5 proficient will also have an opportunity to work on FFW this year. Students attend in a variety of schedules to work into the timetable - most are pulled out of a regularly scheduled class and work in the Resource room. Some have it scheduled as an elective and our Royal City Alternate Program has Fast ForWord as part of the daily timetable. Students are using the full range of products , including the Reading levels.  

 

New Westminster continues to fund a Fast ForWord District Resource teacher (0.75) to run the Fast ForWord lab at New Westminster Secondary School, Manage all District sites and facilitate implementation at our new sites. New Westminster is always looking for the next expansion of the Fast ForWord program and has several elementary schools in mind. Teachers and Resource Teachers continue to be trained and supported on how to use the program and work with the students as we continue to learn best practice protocols and "tricks" for motivation and understanding. 

 

 


 

2011-2012

 

District Support Services in School District 46 (Sunshine Coast) for November 2011-2012 currently has over 50 students from Grades 1-7 go through our Fast ForWord program daily. Two students are enrolled in Reading Assistant only, two are currently doing both RA & FFWD while 6 more students have just moved into Reading Assistant after finishing one Fast ForWord product. My goal this year it to have as many students as possible go into RA after finishing a FFWD product. I tried this last year with good success (but many of the students finished 2 FFWD products before moving into RA). We're now using 10 laptops, and 4 desktop computers. Tight scheduling continues to be what's needed to get the max. number of students through in a day. We're still limited to 1.0 FTE (myself) and I definitely feel this is the maximum any one person can do, especially since finding space is not an easy task. Reading Assistant generally requires a separate room (or two) meaning there's a lot of running around to keep account of individuals needs & progress. Most RA kids have gotten into the habit of coming to get me to check and sometimes help with their Reading Fluency & Comprehension questions before moving on to the next reading, which really helps in making sure they are progressing at the appropriate rate. I'm a firm believer that Fast ForWord followed by Reading Assistant is really working, as more & more parents, teachers & even students are noticing positive results.

 

We continue to run the Language & Literacy programs as well as the reading programs from Reading Prep to Reading 4... and Reading Assistant. Due to scheduling, we are now using mostly 40 minute protocols for FFWD & 20 min RA protocols (sometimes longer as some kids just want to - one of my current students is still wanting to do more after one full hour of work on Reading Assistant and and I literally have to send her off so she doesn't miss the bus home!). The average time for completion per FFWD product continues to be around 20 days, and the average district Reading Progress Indicator gain per student continues to be around 1 year 3 months.

 

Coquitlam SD update for 2011-12 (May):  Coquitlam runs a district based program that takes in students of up to 100 students yearly from across the district.  The Fast ForWord lab is located in the Teaching and Evaluation Center at Birchland Elementary. The program has one full time teacher and a 0.5 Special Education Assistant who manage the site. Three  ninety minute sessions are held throughout the school day for 8 - 10 week sessions for students in grades 3 to 8 (grades 2 in the Spring intake).  Priority is given to students with Learning Disabilities (Category Q), and students with an Aboriginal background.  A comprehensive referral with current reading assessment scores is required.  A writing sample is also needed.  Transportation to and from the program can be provided upon request via taxi service from the home/school and back.  Pre and post assessment measures are taken and students will be followed up after they leave the program.  Coquitlam also continues to offer a Fast ForWord Summer program for the month of July.  Transition from Gateway to MyScilearn format (On Demand version) occured in the Spring 2012 intake. In the 2012-2013 school year, Coquitlam will include Reading Assistant as part of the Fast ForWord program.  Our next goal is to expand services to the High-school level.  The Fast ForWord experience has been very rewarding for many of our students and we hope to continue to provide this amazing program and help more teachers become more aware of its benefits in context to teaching the minds of a 21st century student.

 

Burnaby SD41, 2011-2012: Burnaby continues to provide Fast ForWord as part of our intervention programs.  We currently have 11 sites (8 elementary, 3 secondary) as well as 4 satellite sites throughout the district.  Majority of sites use a 40-minute protocol x 5 days/week.  Students are selected based on a comprehensive referral (including assessments) guided by a selection criteria.  Additional pre/mid/post assessments are expected throughout the time that the students are participating.  The program has expanded to include Reading Levels (Prep-5) and Reading Assistant for those who need further attention. Ongoing assessment and interventions are an active part of the program and are embedded in both the LSS room as well as the classroom.  Furthermore, literacy learning strategies create the bridge between Fast ForWord and the regular classroom providing a common language for students and teachers.   

    Staff development continues to be a focus to support ongoing learning in neuroscience, intensive intervention and literacy strategies for LSS teachers, administrators, support staff, and classroom teachers.  This is done through a blog, teaching/learning pro-d sessions, and online webinar of conversations.  This is built on our district's belief of building capacity, ongoing collaboration and reflection. We are very honoured to be working with dedicated educators striving to deepen their professional practice. 

 

New Westminster SD update for November, 2012:  This year New Westminster is transitioning all sites to the online platform as well. We currently have 2 elementary schools using myscilearn as well as 2 alternate programs. We are hoping to have all our sites on myscilearn by the end of the school year. New Westminster has Fast ForWord labs in 2 middle schools, the one high school in the District, 3 elementary schools, and 3 alternate programs. Students who have a learning disability and have been struggling in their past English classes, as well as our Aboriginal students have been given priority. ELL students who are level 2.5 proficient will also have an opportunity to work on FFW this year. Students attend in a variety of schedules to work into the timetable - most are pulled out of a regularly scheduled class and work in the Resource room. Some have it scheduled as an elective and our Royal City Alternate Program has Fast ForWord as part of the daily timetable. Students are using the full range of products , including the Reading levels.  

 

New Westminster continues to fund a Fast ForWord District Resource teacher (0.75) to run the Fast ForWord lab at New Westminster Secondary School, Manage all District sites and facilitate implementation at our new sites. New Westminster is always looking for the next expansion of the Fast ForWord program and has several elementary schools in mind. Teachers and Resource Teachers continue to be trained and supported on how to use the program and work with the students as we continue to learn best practice protocols and "tricks" for motivation and understanding. 

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