On April 25, Mimosa Park Elementary School principal Michelle deBruler and two of the school’s teachers traveled to Chicago to accept the 2010 International Reading Association’s Exemplery Reading Program Award.
The School earned the award after competing against schools throughout Louisiana and proving that their reading program is the most effective and beneficial for students.
“The award is given to a school that demonstrates a reading program that is consistent with sound theory, research and practice,” deBruler said.
Mimosa Park’s program takes the approach of the gradual release of responsibility to the student. The teachers help the students and eventually give them opportunities to practice and read independently.
Included in the school’s reading and literacy program are classroom libraries supported by the school district, independent and small group reading sessions, interventions for kids who need extra assistance in reading and high achiever groups for children who are excelling.
“There’s so many components of making a successful reading program. It’s not just one little thing,” deBruler said.
Karol Young, a 1st grade teacher at Mimosa Park, is a major component in the school’s reading program and accompanied deBruler to the event in Chicago.
“Language arts is my most favorite thing,” Young said.
Young has been participating in a program with the school district called Literacy Redesign for years.
“As a parish, we got teachers and administrators together to look at our vision and test scores and to think about the current research and figure out where we need to be as effective teachers,” Young said. “We look at what our weaknesses and strengths are and what we do to accomplish goals.”
As a 1st grade teacher, Young’s class is taught to read for the first time.
“We have to teach them to read and that’s hard for a 6-year-old,” she said. “But they get actual time to practice it. We give them time to read books on their level so that they can start being independent. That’s the greatest part…with the approach of how we teach, we’re giving these children so many opportunities for success.”
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