The district’s state report cards show that all the district’s elementary schools received overall achievement grades of B, while each school received a progress grade of A, except for South Elementary, which got a C.
“We sent our fourth grade students onto fifth grade with 92 percent of them proficient or higher in math and 98 percent proficient or higher in reading, with 65 percent of those students actually scoring in the accelerated or advanced range,” said Kim Wotring, principal at Fairfield West of the school’s performance on state reading and math tests.
“Additionally, our school received a grade of A on our school report card for how much our students grew throughout the course of the year. We’ve been very pleased with our achievement results and believe that Kagan has played an important role in our success,” she said.
During a math class at West last week, students used a technique called “Find Someone Who.” The students get up from their desks and find someone who can complete a particular math problem. The students work together and find a solution, then share what they learned with their peers. Kagan also encourages students to encourage each other; the students at West gave each other high-fives after solving a problem.
“It’s a more fun way to learn,” said fourth-grader Rhiann Mason. “You and your friends look around to see who can help. You get to be be able to speak the answer out loud instead of doing it all up in your head.”
Kagan Learning has other benefits besides improving learning, West teacher Tricia Funk said.
“I love how they socially interact. It keeps all the kids more engaged … this is as close as you get to all your students being engaged.”
Since the program was introduced at the Intermediate School this year, both teachers and students have adopted it enthusiastically, said Principal Jeff Madden. The students were especially excited, since they already knew it from their time at the elementary schools.
“It probably has been the most well-received professional development the teachers have ever had. The teachers began to implement it immediately. The students enjoyed it and took right to it,” he said.
“I have to give our curriculum department kudos for seeing the value of it. We do a lot of cooperative learning already, but this program emphasize teamwork and cooperation,” said Madden.
The Kagan program has made its way to Middletown City Schools as well, with teachers at Amanda and Rosa Parks elementaries receiving training on it, according to the district’s curriculum director, Elizabeth Lolli.
“While improvement results in both buildings have occurred, that improvement cannot be solely contributed to Kagan strategies. However, the strategies have likely played some part in the improvement seen in student achievement,” said Lolli.
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