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Show C1 Wednesday, August 18, 2004 Teachers to start CELLExLL in classrooms this year By Maureen Spencer Express Writer It is safe to say that school children chil-dren K-6 are going to be having some new experiences in Uintah School District classrooms this year. When Johnny is asked what he learned in school this year he might say science, social studies, history, physics, manners, health care, citizenship citi-zenship or culture, to name a few. The lists of targeted studies to be addressed in today's classrooms are incredibly long. Home-based, family-focused cultural lessons are shifting shift-ing to the public classroom with the increase of single parent households house-holds and homes with both parents employed. Our hypothetical student might not even mention reading or writing or arithmetic as having been part of the day's subject matter-but the reality is that if this student learned about any topic it was because his teachers were carefully making sure that reading, writing and arithmetic were included in the presentation. This year's remodeled educational education-al focus in Uintah School District is all part of CELL (Comprehensive Early Literacy Learning) and ExLL (Extended Literacy Learning) programs. Both CELL and ExLL are the literacy programs Uintah School District has adopted for use in gearing up to the call for serious improvement in reading and writing abilities in today's students. The reading and writing focus is the result of Utah Governor Oleen Walker's K-3 Initiative that rattled matching funds out of last year's budget for Utah's struggling districts dis-tricts to educate the educators to teach reading, writing and arithmetic. arithme-tic. Principal Robert Stearmer of W. Russel Todd Elementary had his faculty undertake learning the Cell ExLL methods five years ago and to say this principal is "enthusiastic" about the program is an understatement. understate-ment. He is insistent that his staff shares the same level of enthusiasm. For one thing, these professional educators have seen the impressive, changes in their students' learning. - ' "This is not an increased school day or calendar," says Stearmer as he begins to explain the program. "It's just that the techniques makes more efficient and productive use of the time in a classroom." Teachers throughout the district will be trained throughout the 2004-05 2004-05 school year to be able to meet the strengths of each individual child, depending upon their individual indi-vidual levels. "Now we're saying that we have a much better way of teaching and meeting the needs of all kids-high, low or medium, gifted and talented or special needs kids," Stearmer says with conviction. He illustrates his thought with this example. "Say the teacher introduces the thought that for the day the class is going to study the Middle East. During the course of the day the students would be taught how much a barrel of oil costs and how to figure how much a gallon of gas costs, how far it is between Roosevelt and Vernal and how much it costs to make the drive one way or two. Possibly a discussion or student research is done to write reports on how much money would be left after taxes for a minimum wage job and how the cost of driving driv-ing back and forth between the two cities would impact their income." Detailed reports could be assigned advanced students while resource level students would be given assignments equal to their abilities. Every student would participate and the exercises will involve reading, writing and arithmetic the basic three R's-are stressed throughout the day and across all subject matter, mat-ter, as economic impact, cultural differences, geography and personal educational decisions were being taught. The "seamless" transition between reading, writing and arithmetic becomes evident as a CELLExLL trained teacher is able to be flexible enough to work with a class in a manner other than changing study subjects by handing out a different book. "This is one of the most exciting things I've seen in 15 years," says Todd's principal. He and his staff havp wnrkpH (""pllFxl .1 . nnw frr five years. "To have the whofeVis'"1 thf oad '" . . , i r ; i'i. He adds urn un me Millie page iui scam-less scam-less education ultimately for our students K-12 is exciting." ' Supt. Gurney anticipates new year Todd Elementary Principal Robert Stearmer explains how the new CELLExLL program will impact the way students learn reading, writing writ-ing and arithmetic. So far thousands of students in multiple slates use CellExLL and the numbers and improvements are documented to support the theories. Regular reporting of test results is integral to the programs. Parents may anticipate weekly assessments of their children's progress towards the State standards. Parents are encouraged to use this information to help their children at home. Stearmer says that veteran teachers teach-ers are embracing the program, "Because they've seen the failures. They can't teach all levels when they have to teach the 'middle of Uintah School District Superintendent Wayne Gurney says he is looking forward to an exciting new school year to begin. "This year is especially exciting because of the many positive programs pro-grams and innovations that are taking tak-ing place in our schools." In remarks aimed at parents and students of Uintah School District Gurney adds, 'The most important curriculum area for student success in school and later in life is reading. read-ing. Uintah District has for the past five years had the goal of improving improv-ing reading for all students. This year the K-3 Reading Initiative with local and state support will greatly help our elementary schools reach our district goal of having all students stu-dents reading on grade level. "Teachers in the K-6 program will receive extensive professional profession-al development training to help improve reading instruction. This same reading program will, over the next few years, train teachers in the secondary schools to build on the reading skills taught in the lower grades. "Besides reading, our district teachers will review what is working work-ing in all areas of the curriculum and look to improve instruction. "Uintah School District strives for a warm, caring environment for stu dents, parents and staffs. "We welcome and encourage parents par-ents to visit their child's school to become involved as much as they can in the activities at each of the respective schools. More importantly, impor-tantly, as Governor Walker has suggested, sug-gested, the greatest support parents and communities can give to their children and the educational process is to read with a child 20 minutes a day. We encourage all members of our community to join in that endeavor. "Uintah School District personnel person-nel in all areas of our schools program pro-gram are committed to a clean, safe, respectful, learning environment for our students. "Many diverse individuals with differing needs come together from our community to help create this environment. It is important to know and appreciate that it takes all of usincluding parents, students, teachers, support staff, administration, administra-tion, school board members and the community at largeto insure that our schools provide the best learning learn-ing environment available for our students. "We appreciate your support in that endeavor and look forward to an exciting and productive 2004-2005 2004-2005 school year." Breakaway Studio leisons - Group & Individual Starting Fall lesson! September i Tuesday Wednesday Thursday (all Angela for appointment: 790-690 "We can no longer say that 20 out of 25 successes is OK. The single most critical factor outside out-side of the family is a teacher. Instead of buying more "stuff for schools, we've decided to invest in our teachers." By so -doing, Uintah School District will be anticipating "whole class instruction." Students will be taught how to take charge of their own independent learning. Teacher instruction in the programs will be ongoing. Teachers new to the program pro-gram will be taught by those already trained. "I would tell teachers being taught today that their parents may have gone into teaching because they enjoyed June, July and August off," says Stearmer, "but you can no longer lon-ger do that. Those days are gone." Literacy coordinators at each school will remain in their own classrooms half of each day, with coordinators at Todd and at Lapoint sharing responsibilities. Coordinators will also teach Cell-ExLL Cell-ExLL to other teachers, observe in classrooms, and conduct informational informa-tional sessions with the rest of the instructional team. CELL recognizes that the teaching teach-ing of reading and writing is the foundation for all later academic achievement. Teachers are encouraged encour-aged to teach all subjects using the framework of literacy activities. ExLL continues this emphasis in the intermediate grades with the additional focus of using reading and writing in the content areas. Serving at the District schools as literacy coordinators are Elaine Carter, Ashley; Rosa Eaton, Maeser; Kathy Erskine, Discovery; at Todd, Ranette Loughton and Launa Mair; at Lapoint, Mike Young and Maurine Luck; Kaelynn Shaffer, Davis and Amy Gorum, Naples. Parents are encouraged to contact their school's literacy coordinators for further information. Calendar for 'no school' days The Uintah School District calendar cal-endar for school year 2004-05 has been posted to help families make plans for having their students at home. Monday, August 23, is the first day of school for students grade one through 12. Kindergartners will have their first day at school Thursday, Sept. 2. Students will enjoy the national holiday, Labor Day, September 6. Students will stay home Wednesday, Oct. 20, for teacher's professional development. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 28 and 29, schools close for the annual Utah Education Association (UEA) Conference. Monday, Nov. 1, students will remain home for an SEPSEOP trade day. Friday, Nov. 19, students will remain home for a teacher professional pro-fessional development day. Thanksgiving break, Nov. 24-26, 24-26, will close schools Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. In December, students will have school 12 day Wednesday, Dec. 22, for a minimum school day. Christmas break will be observed Dec. 23 through 31. School will resume Monday, Jan. 3. Utah will observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a holiday Monday, Jan. 17. Students will remain at home Tuesday, Jan. 18, for an SEPSEOP trade day. President's Day, Monday, Feb. 21 , is a no school day. Professional Development Monday, Feb. 28, will keep students at home. Spring Break will be held March 24-28, Thursday through Monday. Friday, April 15, will be a no-school no-school day for an SEPSEOP trade day. Friday, May 27, students will enjoy a minimum school day by attending one-half of the day. This is the last day of school as well as graduation day. NEW PROGRAM Prepare for future employment as a Gauger, PumperOperator with our Intro to Petroleum-Technology This class focuses on the following areas: Fundamentals of Oil & Gas Rfservoirsrfer, I Oil & Gas Well Performance fV il & Gas Separation KlfAh 'v;. -yiatrIre?tef Fundamentals T C& 1 1 7o9rl942 tO i-KacKuenyaration - -- ix fnmnroccinn fV i I .Clfin 1 1 H tnHl 1 -M-.- IfkUntah Basm in 1 940 last liiflhway 40 VernaC, Utah 8408 Learning to serve God, family, and country is the aim and end of all true learning. Benjamin Franklin Principle Based God Centered Teaching Love of Country & of the Founding Fathers Higher Dress Code & Behavior Standards Parental Involvement Safe Learning Environment Affordable Private Education The2004-200S school year will begin Tuesday, September 7, 2004 For more information call School: 789-1 965 or Cresta Slaugh: 789-2022 First Impressions Preschool 650 N. Vernal Ave. New 3-year old session 4- and 5-year old session Great teachers Lots of fun! Call 789-3882 Limited space available Applied Technology College a uuai campus 1100E. Lagoon St. Roosevelt 722-4523 559 N .-I700W. Vernal. 789-1 942 www.ubatc.org ! Little Britches Day Care and Preschool 425 S. Vernal Ave. 781-0004 Little Britches Day Care and Preschool will offer your child a loving and healthy learning environment. Little Britches is a member of the NAEYC and UPCCA programs. These programs pro-grams keep us informed of new regulations and techniques for teaching and caring for children. Our staff is CPR FIRSTAID certified and also educated in teaching your child Sign Language. If you're looking for an exciting and safe environment for your child please feel free to stop by or call to enroll. I 1 Kari Morris of Little Britches Day Care has been awarded a Child Development Associate (CD A) Credential in recognition of outstanding work with young children. The credential was awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., which represents the early childhood profession. CDA is the only major national effort to improve childcare by evaluation and recognizing the skills of individuals providing care. The First Credential was awarded 25 years ago, and now 46 states plus the District of Columbia include CDA in their childcare licensing regulations. Parents who use childcare are especially concerned today about their children's welfare. With this in mind, as part of the CDA assessment process, every Candidate for the CDA credential is observed working with young children or families by an early childhood professional. In addition, the Candidate must demonstrate the ability to work with families to develop children's physical and intellectual capabilities in a safe and healthy learning environment. rryTriTTTTTam |