Our school is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by focusing on teacher professional development and evidence-based teaching aligned with the South Carolina Curriculum Standards. Due to Covid-19, student lessons were taught both virtually and face-to-face in 2020-2021, based on parent choice. Although it required changes to presentation media, teachers still used evidence-based teaching strategies across the curriculum. Professional development continued for faculty and paraprofessionals in how to teach reading effectively, monitor student progress efficiently and analyze the resulting data to determine remedies and enrichment as appropriate. The use of Letterland phonics continued in Kindergarten through third grade to boost students' foundations of reading. All teachers in grade levels K-5 taught the Lucy Calkins Units of Reading and Units of Writing to provide organized and systematic lessons in English Language Arts. Teaching strategies based on the expertise of Jennifer Seravallo were expanded throughout the school, too. Additional Fountas and Pinnell leveled reading books were added to the teacher library to continually build resources for differentiated instruction. Additionally, the school library was updated to include more books that appeal to a variety of students' interests and to replace outdated books.
Math is another curricular area where Midway Elementary continues to reinforce and increase students' skills. Concepts of Number Sense and Base Ten as well as Measurement and Data Analysis were areas of concentration again this year. Students need these basic skills in order to become strong mathematicians who will persevere through higher-order, rigorous problem-solving. The Eight Mathematical Principles will be taught to students in the next school year to build their understanding of the importance of math in their daily lives and to build stamina in working through math problems.
While social studies, science and health standards were taught this year, the most critical curricular needs were, and still are, English Language Arts and math. They are the skills upon which all other curricula stand. Therefore, these will continue to be the overarching domains for professional development during the 2021-22 school year.
Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the education of our students in immeasurable ways. Three paraprofessionals were utilized full-time for teaching small groups of students daily to increase their knowledge levels in reading, two of whom were paid with Title One monies. This intervention program will continue throughout the 2021-22 school year and will expand to include a math interventionist. A certified teacher will also be working with the paraprofessionals to plan all lessons and teach daily.
Midway Elementary School faculty and staff look forward to the new school year and to making great strides with our students academically, physically, socially and emotionally.
April Maconi, School Improvement Council Chair
Elizabeth Stehle, Principal
