Action Plan for Improving Reading Comprehension

Goal: To improve reading comprehension skills for all students, with a particular focus on areas identified for growth in the 2023-2024 and fall 2024 school-wide reading assessment data.

Key Areas for Action:

1. Professional Development:

• Continued Pro-D Sessions: Provide ongoing (local, district, and provincial) professional development opportunities for teachers focused on effective reading comprehension strategies.
  • Topics may include:
    • Explicit instruction in comprehension strategies (e.g., predicting, inferencing, visualizing, questioning)
    • Differentiated instruction for diverse learners
    • Using assessment data to inform instruction
    • Engaging students in authentic reading experiences
• Collaboration Days: Dedicate collaboration time for teachers to plan and share best practices for teaching reading comprehension. We thank our support team in the school district for organizing and leading these opportunities.
  • Focus on:
    • Developing common formative assessments
    • Creating engaging learning activities
    • Sharing resources and strategies

2. Resource Allocation:

• Increased Resource Spending: Allocate additional resources to support reading comprehension development in both English and French Immersion programs.
  • This may include:
    • High-quality reading materials (e.g., diverse texts, leveled readers, digital resources)
    • Assessment tools (e.g., running records, diagnostic assessments)
    • Professional development materials (e.g., books, articles, online resources)

3. Targeted Interventions:

• Middle Years Focus: Provide targeted interventions for students in the middle years (Grades 3-5) who are not meeting expected benchmarks in reading comprehension.
  • This may include:
    • Small-group instruction
    • Individualized support
    • Targeted class-wide reading strategies

4. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Ongoing Monitoring: Regularly monitor student progress in reading comprehension through formative and summative assessments.
• Data Analysis: Analyze assessment data to identify trends, areas of strength, and areas for improvement.
• Action Plan Review: Review and revise this action plan as needed based on ongoing data analysis and feedback.

Timeline:

• November - December 2024: Use funding for resources and plan professional development sessions.
• January - June 2025: Implement professional development, provide targeted interventions, and engage families.
• Ongoing: Monitor student progress, analyze data, and revise the action plan as needed.

Success Measures:

• Increased percentage of students achieving "Proficient" and "Extending" levels on school-wide reading assessments.
• Improved reading comprehension skills for students in the middle years.
• Increased family engagement in supporting literacy development.

This action plan provides a framework for improving reading comprehension at Whiteside Elementary. By working together and utilizing available resources, we can ensure that all students develop the essential skills they need to succeed.