In an effort to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the academic growth of our students, Laurel Hill Primary School focused on critical thinking and creativity as we developed the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate for all students throughout the 2020-2021 school year.
Critical thinking is essential in developing independent learners. The Bridges Math Curriculum, OGAP Strategies, and Adaptive Digital Content were utilized in creating differentiated learning opportunities for students returning to school in the Fall of 2020. With the COVID-19 closure in the spring of 2020, our students missed vital math instruction necessary for building a foundation. The use of the programs mentioned above allowed our teachers to pre-assess student skills and individualize the learning to meet their needs. Teachers also utilized digital workplaces for math to allow students to practice skills while adhering to COVID protocol. Adaptive digital content aligned with the Bridges Curriculum created multiple ways for students to practice solving problems while providing remediation and enrichment as needed. In the spring of 2021, data indicated positive growth in the area of math across all grade levels.
In order to have the success we experienced this year, our teachers had to get creative. Our teachers worked together to optimize the learning environment by utilizing large open spaces, providing differentiated texts, creating individualized packets of manipulatives, implementing personalized learning, engaging students on digital learning platforms, and ensuring all students (whether remote or in-person) had all necessary resources to be successful. We dedicated time each month to grade level planning with a focus on creative problem solving. We funded a reading intervention position and utilized support staff to provide research-based instruction for our Tier 2 and Tier 3 learners. With student achievement in mind, we were able to develop our programs and approach to make sure all students made adequate growth by the end of the school year.
Our 20-21 motto was “Be Brave. Be Bold. Be a Loggerhead.” Through critical thinking and creativity, we created safe learning opportunities where students were challenged and experienced success.
Ashley Dorsey, Principal
Emily Laird, SIC Chairperson
