09/10/13
Technology in Education at East Elementary
East Elementary School in Humboldt, Tennessee recently received two grants, one from 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) and another from the Tennessee Department of Education, called the Focus Schools Grant, to assist the school with providing tools to help close the test score gap for its economically disadvantaged learners.
The Focus School grant program is designed to support Focus Schools – the 10 percent of schools in Tennessee with the largest achievement gaps between groups of students – in developing deliberate, data-driven strategies to ensure growth for student subgroups that have underperformed their peers. The CCLC supports learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities, including activities that complement regular academic programs to help students meet state and local standards in core academic subjects, during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools.
The Focus grant is being used towards the implementation of the online Classworks program for second through fifth grade students. Each child is screened and an individual learning path is created within Classworks, along with a login and password so their progress can be tracked no matter where they sign on and complete their assignments. If a problem arises, the program resets and allows reinforcement/relearning for the student. This program is for only reading, math, and science for now but could expand to include social studies in the future. Since its implementation, the school has seen significant improvement in the test score gap.
The CCLC grant awarded to East Elementary allows teachers to work with the students at the local Boys & Girls Club during “Power Hour” assisting with homework and tutoring in the areas recommended by their classroom teachers and benchmark tests. With approximately 80 of its second through fifth grade students attending the local Boys & Girls Club for after-school care, East Elementary created a partnership with the club to set up Classworks in the computer lab there as well so that students can continue their studies once the school day is over.
“A student could have as many as two to three interventions in a day between school and the Boys & Girls Club,” said East Elementary School Principal Charlotte Shively. “This ensures that students are understanding and recalling the material being taught, gives them the opportunity to ask questions and get help if they need it. Since receiving these grants, we have seen significant improvement in test scores.”
“East Elementary feels so fortunate to continue their educational and enrichment services with the Boys and Girls Club,” said Emily Burleson, CCLC grant director and instructional technology coach. “It is a wonderful partnership with the Boys and Girls Club and Humboldt City Schools.”