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Elbert Elementary School Reportby Kristi Thompson, MA Ed, DLS School Mentor & Workshop Presenter
On July 31st of 2006, it was my pleasure as a Licensed Davis Learning Strategies® Presenter to train 17 Elbert staff members in the DLS Basic Teacher Workshop. Those staff members included: administration, regular education teachers grades preschool through 5th grade, paraprofessionals, Exceptional Education teachers, Title I, and some Jr. High and High School teachers as well. Kelli Loflin, Elbert Superintendent and Elementary Principal was instrumental in bringing this valuable training to their school. In Kelli's opinion, Davis Learning Strategies® are some of the most important strategies that teachers can share with children! "DLS is totally unique to the educational process because it not only helps children master the basics in academics, but because it addresses each individual student. Children not only gain techniques for learning through DLS, but also the knowledge and awareness of how to manage themselves", states Ms. Loflin. Elbert School District #200 is a rural school that is located about 45 miles southeast of Denver or 35 miles northeast of Colorado Springs. It consists of approximately 280 students grades Preschool through 12th grade. The average class size ranges anywhere from 15 to 25 students. The majority of the students here come from hardworking, middle class families, whose parents commute to work in Denver or Colorado Springs. Bob Beebe, the High School Principal at Elbert says, "It's close to everything, but far enough away to give one the impression they live more remotely. One thing I love about our school is the students…no matter where we go, people compliment us on the outstanding behavior they exhibit. They have integrity, take responsibility for their actions making Elbert a fun and rewarding place to work!" DLS is utilized primarily in grades pre-k through 3rd grade, including Exceptional Education and Title I. It is supported/supplemented in grades 4 and higher. Diane Pursell, 2nd grade teacher at Elbert said, "because of DLS, my class this year has gone farther in reading than any class I've had so far. The DLS Basic Word Mastery really carries over." Mrs. Becky Crabbs, 1st grade teacher at Elbert said, "My students leave the 1st grade classroom with so much more than what they had before DLS! These students are reading the dictionary for fun! Not only can they can utilize it, but they are so interested in it and it is due to DLS." Her paraprofessional, Linda Kitzman noted, "DLS adds so much more structure to the madness of the educational process." As teachers at Elbert have become more knowledgeable about DLS through practice and experience, they are finding that DLS enhances everything that they are already doing. Many staff members have commented that these strategies give them the flexibility to weave in DLS at various times throughout the day, not just prior to "planned" or "key" times such as reading, writing, or math activities. Shelly Gould, elementary librarian at Elbert incorporates DLS into whole group story time. She reinforces DLS which helps children be accountable and responsible for their learning and behavior outside of the classroom. Playground teachers ask children to use DLS before entering the building, putting an expectation on appropriate behavior and it is all done with a "key" word that has been learned through these amazing strategies. "It doesn't matter if children are considered to be at-risk, average, or above average students; DLS addresses their needs where they are at", according to Mrs. Crabbs. Kim Stichler, paraprofessional at Elbert stated, "I have some fairly timid students that I work with. Because of the reading exercises that DLS offers, they were able to figure out some pretty big words and they were as impressed with themselves as I was! I work with another student who was considered an at-risk student in the beginning of the year, and now this student has gained a lot of confidence and has turned into a reading machine! I'm sure that DLS is a large part of that success! As a parent too, I believe that DLS can only be more and more beneficial for children as they grow up because of the self-regulation abilities DLS helps children to acquire." Vikki Gould, elementary exceptional education teacher at Elbert utilizes DLS in the resource room. She also facilitates DLS Basic Word Mastery whole class in the 4th grade with classroom teacher Micky Simms and 5th grade with classroom teacher Kathy Franek. This helps supplement vocabulary and spelling, plus it supplies those children with "hands-on" learning. "I think that the classroom and school community behavior has improved, after having DLS in the classrooms for two full years now. The teachers all have the same language, and the kids know what to expect as they go through the grades with DLS," says Mary Anderson, Elbert Kindergarten teacher. Mary also adds, "Our administration is fully committed to DLS and is always supportive and willing to help us accomplish our goals." Connie Schaffer, Elbert Preschool teacher and her paraprofessional Lynne Ferguson have noted that when the preschoolers get a little wild, they are asked to use the DLS strategies that help them adjust their energy levels and calm down. Mrs. Shaffer also told me that as they gain more awareness about self-control, these preschool children have the ability to determine "when" they need to use DLS to adjust their energy levels and calm down. This would indicate that they are already learning the importance that self-control has on the learning process. In just two years of implementation of DLS, Elbert Elementary is already enjoying the many benefits that come with investing time incorporating DLS into their classrooms. Anne Stewart-Green, Elbert Elementary Title I teacher has noted that many more children than ever before are retaining their sight words from Kindergarten to 1st grade. Teachers are also reporting that classroom behavior is more manageable and discipline problems have dwindled significantly. Elbert's 3rd grade has gone from scoring the lowest on the reading CSAP in the Pikes Peak Region to scoring the highest for two years in a row. I want to wish Elbert School District #200 continued success with Davis Learning Strategies®. The teachers who utilize DLS are to be commended for their efforts to meet the needs of ALL students. Thanks again to the staff and administration at Elbert for giving ALL students the confidence to learn! |
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Elbert Elementary School has become the third Davis Learning Strategies Model School! Elbert Elementary teachers and support staff have demonstrated competency and efficiency in their ability to implement DLS in the classroom. The staff has shown willingness and dedication to meeting the needs of ALL children regardless of how they learn. Watching this staff blossom in their knowledge and application of DLS the past two years has been truly rewarding.