CLEARFIELD – In order to better literacy, the fifth grade faculty has approached Tim Meckey, middle school principal, about pursuing a different instructional schedule and approach.
Teacher Cindy Naddeo said that the fifth grade has been at the middle school for four years and has adapted a little more each year. She said literacy was an area in need of improvement, however.
“We just haven’t made the jump that we’re looking for,” Naddeo said on behalf of the fifth grade staff.
Naddeo said their staff would like to concentrate its efforts and pair up for learning collaborations and common opportunities for their students.
She said that an hour would be spent on reading and match each day, and other subject areas would be taught every other day.
She said instructional teaming would be more efficient and focus on the curriculum. “We want to deliver a stronger education to students.”
Meckey said that the grade level’s biggest concern is literacy, and they’ve seen a “slow growth.” He said if the schedule changes were implemented, it would result in an additional 15 minutes for reading and literacy instruction for the students each day.
Meckey said that he researched the proposed changes and made nearly 30 contacts. He said that he contacted schools, which were similar to Clearfield. He said that some used traditional teaching methods, while others had utilized those like his staff’s proposal.
Meckey, who attended a conference at Lehigh University, said he’s convinced that the new approach is worth a try after hearing a presentation from Upper St. Clair – the top school district in the state. He said the pairing teachers approach worked well for them.
“If it works for the number one school district in the state, it can work for Clearfield,” he said. He said that he was very much supportive and would like to see it implemented.
“It has potential for success. I haven’t seen this much enthusiasm from the staff in a while.”
