Scholastic Programs

SFA

Success for All Reading Program

You are Invited to Participate

My name is Connie McGinnis and I am the Success for All Facilitator at Goodyear School. Success for All, (SFA) is a proven school wide program for the elementary grades. It was developed at John Hopkin's University and does an outstanding job of putting together for teachers the best of every proven approach to the teaching of reading.

The program is designed to ensure the success of every child. By targeting prevention and early intervention, virtually every child can become a successful reader and student. SFA has many components to make sure that no child is left behind.

SFA provides schools with research based curriculum materials.
Teachers are given extensive professional development in proven strategies for instruction, assessment, and classroom management.
We have eight teachers that give one-to-one tutoring for children who need it.
Students are tested every eight to nine weeks, so problems can be targeted early.
We teach a program called "Getting Along Together" the first two weeks of school and it is practiced daily. The program is designed to teach students ways to get along and work with other people
During the reading segment students have the opportunity to work in cooperative groups with their peers and partners.
Our Family Support Team is also part of the SFA program. This team is designed to help teachers with any problems that might interfere with school success. Family support is also involved in working on attendance, activities that bring our families into the school for special programs and incentives for our teachers.

Success for All reading is taught each morning from 8:20-9:50. Beginning in 1st grade, children are grouped across classes and grades by reading level, giving teachers the opportunity to work intensively with students at one reading level. Groups are smaller because the eight tutors each have a reading group in the mornings. Students take the STAR readin gtest on the computer every eight to nine weeks. This assessment along with grades and teacher input help to place the children in the proper group each nine weeks.

Kindercorner is the program designed for our kindergarten students. Roots is the component designed for students reading on a first grade level. Wings is designed for students in grades 2-5. We have several groups that are reading on middle grade levels, so they use novels during reading.

Another important part of the SFA program is homework. Students need to read for at least 20 minutes each night. Reading folders or agendas are signed each night by an adult so that we will have a record. Homework counts as a weekly daily grade for the student and it also makes them eligible for a drawing each Friday afternoon. Students that read all week are given a ticket in their reading class. These are drawn out for prizes.

We also have adult volunteers that come in and listen to children read as well as older students. Practicing can only help our children to become better readers. If you are interested in volunteering your time, please call the school.