| Submitted by Donnie Price
Arnoldsburg Elementary two years ago began work on school improvement, with issues in testing scores below standard. Through hard work of the school staff and students, great gains have been evidence.
To continue this improvement, the staff, with support of county Title I and Special Education, training and upgrade of materials used with students to continue this improvement have been put in place. Following No Child Left Behind standards, student materials and teacher practices must have a scientific base.
One key element for children is the availability and use of listening and watching people pronounce words. Another element is that of exposure to good literature, books. Through the use of targeted software and literature, Arnoldsburg School is implementing these research-based concepts.
Open Book specialist and representative, Mrs. Joanne Martin, provided training on one such concept, Open Book, on March 10th and 11th. Open Book is a computer-based program that supplements the reading program.
The two-day training provided the relevant use and implementation of the Open Book program. Day one of the training, Mrs. Martin provided an intense session targeted for teachers use. Day two Mrs. Martin was able to work with both teachers and students who were actually using the program.
We wish to extend a special thanks to Mrs. Jane Lynch, Director of Federal Programs for Calhoun County Schools. Through her efforts in researching the Open Book program and providing information regarding training, Open Book is being integrated at Arnoldsburg School.
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