Prospect and Seneca Schools

Earn Distinction Award

By Barbara Shurilla, Reading Coach

On June 8, 2007 Anthony Sciolino, Reading First Manager, and Barb Shea, Regional Coordinator, for the Western New York Regional School Support Center named Prospect Elementary School and Seneca Elementary School “Schools of Distinction” at a special presentation held for Reading First Schools at the Erie 1 BOCES center in West Seneca, New York.

 Last September when the doors of Prospect and Seneca schools opened the term Reading First became an often heard phrase.  Our school district was fortunate to receive a three-year grant from the NYS Education Department to reinforce the teaching of reading in grades kindergarten through three.  Emphasis in instruction is placed on the five research based components of reading:  phonemic awareness – ability to hear sounds in words; phonics and word study – relationship between the sounds that letters make and the letters in print; fluency – ability to read smoothly and with expression; vocabulary – use of words,; and comprehension – ability to understand what is read. 

Students’ reading skills in these five areas are monitored regularly throughout the school year using a variety of instruments.  This helps teachers and service providers including the Literacy Specialists and Reading Coaches to group students for extra instruction in areas of

                                                                                         difficulty. 

                                                                                        Reading First also requires the students be taught reading during an uninterrupted block of time

                                                                                        for a minimum of 90 minutes each day.  These blocks are scheduled as follows:

                                                                                                    Kindergarten – 8:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

                                                                                                    Grade One – 9:20 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.

                                                                                                    Grade Two – 9:55 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.

                                                                                                    Grade Three –  9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

                                                                                       Because of the importance of reading instruction, parents/guardians are requested to have their

                                                                                       children to school on time and to refrain from scheduling appointments that would require students

                                                                                       to miss class at these times.  It is also requested that no visitations or interruptions of any sort be

                                                                                       made to the classrooms during this priority time.  In our schools we truly have put Reading First!