ELA word work boards

School:: Dune Lakes Elementary School
Subject:: Literacy
Teacher:: Kris Ascetta
Students Impacted:: 18
Grade:: 1
Date:: October 14, 2024

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

The Alys Foundation - $100.79

Goal

At the beginning of the school year, my students took the STAR reading assessment to measure their ELA proficiency. Based on my students' performance 57% of my students were performing below grade level with only 43% at or above benchmark. To achieve 75% proficiency we will be working during whole group and small group reading instruction.

What will be done with my students

Walton County adopted UFLI Foundations last year for ELA. One of the components of UFLI involves word work with manipulative boards and letters. The word work is done independently during small group and whole group instruction. This part of the lesson allows students to work hands-on with common spelling patterns while noticing similarities and differences among words. Once a student learns a new skill well, their familiarity will serve as a starting point for learning new words and reinforcing what they know about letters and sounds.

Benefits to my students

All students in my class are provided rigorous reading instruction in both whole and small group instruction. This new curriculum has been proven to be highly effective with all students because of how easily lessons can be differentiated. Having manipulatives that students can easily assess and move around to see the similarities and differences within words and word chains will help increase the level of proficiency in ELA.
Student data will be evaluated using the STAR assessment which will be given for the final time in the Spring of 2025. Since my overall focus is on phonics I expect my students to have increased to 75% proficiency on the final assessment.