Notes
Samantha is in her 7th year teaching 4th grade at Forest View Elementary. She graduated from KState with her bachelors and Emporia State with her master’s in curriculum and instruction. She has only taught 4th grade at Forest View. She has a very cohesive team and they all work well and plan together
Olathe is in their 4th year of using 95% group for their phonics resourse. Samantha has noticed a decrease in students having severe phonics needs. She told me she has a basic or surface level knowledge of phonics and is looking forward to learning more in this class. This is the second year using Wit and Wisdom as the ELA resource. Year one was tough and slow, but the pacing was done on purpose. She noted that she is feeling more comfortable and her students are willing to attempt complex text where last year’s students were not. She also noted the amount and type of writing her students are completing has increased in a positive way.
Currently the ELA block consists of 55 minutes of core reading then a break for lunch. In the afternoon she has read aloud for 15 minutes followed by writing then a deep dive. MTSS Reading small groups happen in the afternoon with only 3 students needing phonics instruction and the other groups receive fluency instruction. The whole 4th grade breaks up into groups based upon their need.
She is excited to learn more about the Science of Reading and how it can apply to and impact her students. She also has 4th grade teammate completing the class as well.