Burleson students doing well under new programs

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Reading and math scores have soared at F.E. Burleson Elementary School since the implementation of the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) two years ago and V-Math a year ago.
The Alabama Reading and Math Test (ARMT) scores show fourth graders reading at a 94 percent proficiency level or 5 percentage points above where they were as third graders. Math scores placed them at a 95 percent proficiency level compared to 88 percent in the prior year, a gain of 7 percentage points. This assessment is administered to all students who receive core instruction in a traditional classroom setting in grades 3-5.
From 2005-2007, for third, fourth and fifth graders as a whole, reading proficiency increased from 84 to 92 percent and math from 69 to 85 percent.
"Our goal is to take every child as far as he or she can go, whatever it takes," Principal Sherry Calvert said. "And we're not alone; parents of students are partnering with us."
The new programs are having a direct impact on the test scores, school officials said.
"ARI has taught us that children have different needs and you can't teach them all the same way and be successful," Reading Coach Ellen Hodgen said. "We identify their needs individually, group them based on proficiency level and create a plan to help each child reach his potential."
Both Calvert and Hodgen believe the reason ARI and V-Math are making such a positive impact boils down to training, commitment and teamwork.
K-3 teachers were introduced to ARI in an intense, productive training session in the summer before it was implemented in the classroom at the beginning of the 2005-06 school year. Continuing training has been the focus of planning retreats at Gatlinburg and Double Head Resort in Lawrence County the past two summers, monthly data-sharing meetings and professional book studies such as "How Full Is Your Bucket."
"The first year we were focused totally on reading," Calvert said. "The second year we kept reading on the front burner but gave more attention to math with the introduction of the V-Math program. It has given us a research-based tool to help third, fourth and fifth grade students struggling with math, and has proved to be very helpful.
"I've never seen a group of caring professionals come together and commit themselves to a 'whatever it takes' attitude like our teachers have." Calvert said. "They embraced ARI from the start and have selflessly shared resources and ideas with one another and worked together as a team."
"All our teachers are reading teachers," Hodgen added, "even in P.E. classes where spelling words are displayed on the walls of the gym."
Calvert said the school's extended day program is helping out as well.
"Last year we had 20 to 25 students enrolled. This year the number has grown to about 50. It's a win-win situation for students who come from homes where both parents work away from home. The oversight and assistance of classroom teachers in the extended day program enables students to complete their homework assignments with ease as well as to participate in other supervised learning activities."
F.E. Burleson met or exceeded all of its Average Yearly Progress (AYP) goals in 2006 and 2007 after being placed on a list of Alabama schools needing improvement in math proficiency in two sub-groups in 2005. Of its 430 students, 41 percent qualify for free or reduced price lunches, 25 percent are from minority families and 50 have special education status.
All the same, the school is not about to sit on its laurels and coast. Plans are in the making to add a science laboratory and start building an outdoor classroom in 2007-08, according to Calvert.
Burleson helps state lead country
Reading scores made by fourth grade students at F. E. Burleson Elementary School last February helped Alabama lead the nation in gains made in reading, based on data released recently by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
The NAEP report shows a significant gain of 8 points in fourth grade reading for Alabama students. That's almost triple the national average in gains.
In 2005, the scale score was 208 and in 2007 the gain increased significantly to 216-resulting in a net gain of 8 points. This improvement closed the gasp and Alabama is only four scale score points from the national average (220) in fourth grade reading.
"I want to be the first to congratulate the state of Alabama for leading the nation in fourth grade reading gains," U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said. Combining proven methods of instruction with hard-working students and dedicated teachers has paid off with reading scoring rising 8 points in just two years. It's phenomenal."
"This gain stands out for this year's assessment, and in the history of NAEP's state-level reading assessment," said Mark Schneider, commissioner for the National Center for Education Statistics.
The NAEP test was administered to approximately 12,000 students from 230 schools in Alabama as required by "No Child Left Behind."