We are a continuous improvement and data-driven model school.
We were created to impact children and families, change policy and increase public-private investment in early education. The ultimate goal was to improve equitable access to quality for all children across Virginia.
We’ve done that year after year by developing a High Quality Implementation Model School for others to learn from, replicate and scale. The STREAMin3 curriculum is in over 5,600 classrooms across the state.
Our Data:
There was a shift in our data during the pandemic. The first thing we noticed was a decline in social skills and self-regulation in all children regardless of their zip code.
This was not surprising given the fact that our children’s routines and lives were turned upside down. It aligned with national research and data.
Our team developed an action plan and implemented strategies to help our teachers and families work with children to strengthen these skills. The data improved for that cohort of preschoolers.
Then we started to notice a decrease in the number of children meeting literacy benchmarks across the income spectrum.
This too aligned with national reports in terms of language development delays.
Our Playbook:
➡️ The entire team did a deep dive on the Science of Reading and changed the way we were thinking about language development and how to build a strong foundation for reading.
➡️ We watched The Right to Read to understand the fundamental issues in how children were learning to read. Collectively, we developed an understanding of the why.
➡️ Our school piloted the Virginia Language and Literacy Screener System(VALLSS) and trained our team on how to use the data effectively for children, families and the development of every teacher.
➡️ We focused on incorporating stronger oral language development through conversations, serve and return, rhymes, songs, word play and lots of stories.
➡️ Every teacher learned how to teach explicit instruction in a developmentally appropriate way for our one to five-year-olds.
➡️ A library and literacy lab was created to provide access and ignite a love of books. The lab is where our reading coaches use the VALLSS data to individualize instruction and identify early reading challenges.
➡️ Children and families check out books to take home to read.
➡️ Our routines and budget reflect that literacy is a priority.
➡️ Read alouds are happening all day long to create a language-rich environment.
➡️ Adults are reading mentors. They model reading every day.
➡️The Five Pillars are incorporated into everyday activities (phonemic awareness,phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension).
➡️ Literacy Walks occur 5x per day or more by our team.
➡️ The instruction, professional development and coaching are guided by VALLSS data 3x per year for children and teachers.
➡️ There are family literacy nights that are interactive and fun.
➡️ Literacy tool kits are developed for our children and families to use at home.
The Outcome?
➡️ Our literacy data improved year after year.
➡️ Families understood the VALLSS data. Activities were provided for each child and family after reviewing data together. This improved continuity between home and school.
➡️ The link between the importance of teacher-child interactions and literacy instruction was made.
➡️ Most preschool children have strong literacy skills within or above expected ranges in all areas, which is well above Virginia averages.
➡️ Our administration and teachers understand the why behind the research and how to implement.
➡️ A supplemental literacy framework was created that aligns with VALLSS and the Science of Reading.
We are incredibly proud of our team! They work hard to help EVERY child learn, grow and thrive.
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