Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI)
If a child hasn’t become an independent reader by 3rd grade, she may never catch up. Although each of our schools has a reading room or library and many generous donors have contributed books and other supplies, teachers still need the professional development in proven strategies and techniques in literacy education’s best practices to ensure that students receive the foundational skills necessary for academic success.
With a generous gift from Dorrance Hamilton, beginning in September 2011, teachers of grades K-3 at all five schools will receive professional one-on-one coaching from CLI professionals; model classrooms will be created; and a teacher from each school will be identified as a mentor teacher and receive an additional 35 hours of coaching.
Instructional Coach
How well a teacher performs in the classroom is critical to successful student outcomes. And like star performers everywhere, coaching and practice are a key part of everyday life.
In keeping with the Partnership’s belief that all of our teachers must be professional educators committed to children as well as to the craft of teaching, we’ve brought an instructional coach on board this school year to work in our five schools.
The coach will be a colleague with classroom teachers to support student learning. She will focus on individual and group professional development that will expand and refine the understanding of research-based instructional best practices. The instructional coach will also provide mentoring to principals in areas such as time management, leadership, effective classroom observation, use of student data, parent communication, and creating a culture of learning.
Langan/Nadell Reading Program
“The best way to encourage more reading is to provide compelling human stories that will appeal to readers of all ages. That is what the affordable Townsend Library tries to do. Research shows that the more access students have to appealing paperback books, the more they read.”
~John Langan
The Townsend Press Foundation and the Langan-Nadell family have a strong commitment to improving literacy for children in Camden.
Author Dr. Judith Nadell and other partners of Townsend Press have started a tradition of reading portions of various books from their collection to our students. In addition, each of our students, kindergarten through 8th grade, receives 15 books for their personal home library.
For example, the King Series, which is read monthly to 1st and 2nd graders in our schools, features a cast of characters modeled on actual boys and girls of various ethnicities and family structures living right here in Camden. At the end of each school year, students have up to 60 books to call their own.
According to Dr. Nadell, “Young readers will relate easily to these recurring characters, will want to read all about them and will, in the process, become eager, skilled readers.”
Bookcases
Every child should have the opportunity to grow their own personal library. What we know about kids in Camden is that many children do not have a place to house their new books. With the help of the Mount St. Joseph Academy high school students and a dedicated team of parents from Doylestown, PA, every 5thgrade student built their very own book shelf. It was experiential learning at its best and the students’ sense of accomplishment and pride was palpable.
STEM
(Science Technology Engineering & Math)
First in Math is a web-based program that teachers can use throughout the day to enhance student learning. Studies show that use of the program for minutes a day—in the classroom or at home—can increase math success. The more children use it, the more their skills improve. The program includes a “competition” component, which offers sustained, positive motivation. As students play, they earn award “stickers” that accrue to their personal and classroom score. Each Partnership School utilizes the First in Math program to support and reinforce students’ comprehension and mastery of core math skills.
Coriell Science Fair
The Coriell Science Fair is open to students in grades 6 through 12 who attend schools in Burlington, Camden, or Gloucester counties. Coriell believes that participation in the Fair offers you a foundation on which to build your interest in the sciences by engaging in self-directed research, learning to manage real-world regulatory requirements, interacting with and communicating your ideas to practicing scientists and educators, and representing your school in competition. CPS agrees. Students at St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral School participate yearly in the Coriell Science Fair. We hope to expand CPS participation in the Coriell Science Fair during the 2011-2012 school year.
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First Lego League Robotics
A team of students from each of the 5 schools explore science and technology through the First Lego League Robotics program. Kids engage in research, problem-solving, engineering, and friendly competition. Thanks to the involvement of Mount St. Joseph Academy in Flourtown, Pa., and engineers from Campbell Soup.
Aviation
The CPS Aviation Club provides 6th-8th grade students with an exciting and yet safe academic enrichment experience through in-depth learning about the scientific principles and practices of aviation. At each of our schools, a crew comprised of one adult mentor and five to ten students meets weekly after-school for 2 hours from mid-January through mid-May. The program culminates in a competition event among the five crews. Each Crew uses a modified version of the Wild Blue Wonders Curriculum, which breaks aviation down into various components that are aligned with the National Content Standards. It provides opportunities for academic enrichment in science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts.
The students have the opportunity to fly with a certified pilot through the Young Eagles Association. In 2010-2011, 18 students completed the program and participated in the Young Eagles flights. The program will begin again in November 2011. If you would like to get involved, please visit Give Your Time.