In addition to use for whole-class lessons and individual, independent work, CFISD teachers and instructional specialists make frequent use of Storyworks articles as mentor texts for small-group instruction, with interventionists working with Tier 3 students in need of intensive support and with tutors supporting “bubble” students who are almost on level. At Matzke Elementary School, they also use Storyworks articles in their Saturday and after-school camps for striving learners who need extra help. Teachers volunteer their time, and instructional specialist Bergholtz selects a Storyworks article appropriate for teaching a specific skill and prepares a set of tailored prompts and questions for the teachers, adapted from the instructional resources provided with Storyworks . Question types might include multiple choice, short response, and extended, constructed response. Teachers also make Storyworks available as a choice for independent reading. For example, at Walker Elementary School, they schedule 30 minutes of independent reading time every day. Sometimes Ducharme gives students a completely free choice of what to read. Other times, she narrows the choice based on the instructional focus of the day, sometimes a fiction choice, sometimes nonfiction. At Matzke Elementary, they also send Storyworks home with students to engage parents in reading with their children. Teachers and instructional specialists take advantage of several of the Storyworks digital features. They use the introductory videos, which not only build background knowledge, but also provide listening practice and speaking practice during follow- up discussions. This has proven especially valuable for English language learners. The staff also makes use of the slideshows, the texts available at multiple reading levels, and the text-to-speech option, which works well with Esparza’s bilingual and special ed students. The Storyworks activity sheets and quizzes are also in regular use.
SCHOLASTIC STORYWORKS SUCCESS STORY: CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 7
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