According to Bush principal Kate Benson, teachers in her building are focusing on small group instruction “to differentiate learning for all students.”

“Every grade level is receiving an hour of small group instruction for reading and groups are selected based off of fall assessment data,” Benson said. “During this time, students are explicitly taught using instructional strategies aligned with the science of reading and at their reading level during this hour of instruction.”

This time gives first grade teacher Sydney Deppas the chance to do a deep dive on reading with her students.

“I really love having this time with the students to hone in on the skills they need in a focused small group setting,” Deppas said. “What really makes it unique is not the work we do, but the results we see when the winter assessments roll around and it is clear just how much progress the kids have made!”

From left to right, Bryson Stone, Mackenzy Lamb, Aspen Olson, Jaz Lanae Reid, Yulaisa Quiros Vivanco, Skylynn Brown, and Corbin Conklin smile after having the chance to show off their reading skills on the Bush School morning announcements.

Deppas noted that the students are grouped based on their needs and are assigned to a small group with either the classroom teacher, a paraprofessional, or one of the school’s reading specialists.

“Using this method, we are able to ensure that each student is being taught explicitly the skill they are weakest in, therefore pushing them towards becoming fluent readers, which is our ultimate goal,” she said.

Small group instruction is nothing new for Bush reading specialists JoAnne Galbier, Julie Yochim, and Jacquelyn Daigler.

“I like seeing them grow,” said Daigler of the small group setting. “Sometimes, we’ll see them throughout their years here at Bush, working on different skills, but we’ll see them grow and develop into their own person. That’s what I like. As a former first grade teacher, you really only see them for one year, but here you really get to see them grow from kindergarten to fourth.”

Prior to joining Bush’s reading team four years ago, Yochim spent 25 years as a kindergarten teacher. She’s enjoyed the switch for similar reasons.

“I really have enjoyed working with the small groups,” she said. “It’s nice to have a small group to focus on just those students so that I can provide direct instruction in the skills that particular group needs to improve their reading.”

Given the intervention that has been needed since the COVID-19 pandemic, the reading teachers have become just as visible as a child’s classroom teacher.

“We’re supporting the classroom teacher to support their kids,” Galbier added. “There are some kids who do come and see us, but we see the whole grade level.”

“This is an important role,” Yochim added. “Reading is essential. It’s the foundation of everything.”

As students are showing growth in their reading ability, they have the chance to be nominated by a teacher to be featured on the daily school announcements. Benson said it’s been a great way for them to show their love of reading.

“Each day we feature students on the announcements who were ‘Caught Reading,’ followed by a chance for them to show off their skills by reading a passage from a classroom assignment,” Benson said.

“This is a really great opportunity for students to show off their reading ability,” she added. “Through this incredible work that our staff is doing, our students’ love for reading continues to grow as does their excitement about all they’re accomplishing as we continue to celebrate these successes daily on the announcements.”