Posted on: Thursday, November 18, 2004

Education Snapshot — Nimitz Elementary School

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer

A coordinated effort by all the Nimitz Elementary School teachers has boosted third-grade reading skills, said principal Kenneth Lee.

In recent years the school has moved to a single research-based reading curriculum, brought paraprofessional reading tutors into the classrooms for an hour a day and set aside 90 minutes a day for uninterrupted silent reading.

The effort paid off on this year's Hawai'i State Assessment, when 68 percent of third-graders met proficiency on the test and 2 percent exceeded proficiency, compared to 53 percent meeting and 1 percent exceeding proficiency in 2003.

What made the difference: All of the teachers from kindergarten to Grade 3 have focused on reading and mathematics and the entire school uses the same reading series, Lee said.

In addition, teachers at the same grade level work together so all pupils in each grade level are learning the same content.

"It's a concerted effort by all the teachers, as well as the parents," Lee said.

For the past couple of years, the school has offered reading workshops to parents of kindergartners that teach them activities they can do at home to supplement what their children are learning.

The school also analyzes the test results to focus on weak areas and monitors pupils' basic reading progress by giving an assessment three times a year.

How they did it: Teachers in kindergarten through third grade have all attended Reading First Academy training. "All the teachers have implemented strategies that they've learned at the workshops," Lee said.

Teachers are also given time to talk about what they are doing in the classroom with a Reading First coordinator, usually at least one session a quarter.

Other factors: Paraprofessional tutors spend an hour a day in the classroom, helping the teacher work with individual pupils or groups.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.