South Carolina's Carlisle-Foster's Grove Elementary School Is Awarded State's Top Honor for Its Exemplary Reading Program and Will Be Recognized at the International Reading Association (IRA) Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on April 25th
April 25, 2010
American Reading Company Commends Principal Nicha Jordanon Her Commitment to Teacher Training and a Balanced Literacy Program
CHESNEE, SC – April 23, 2010 – Carlisle-Foster’s Grove Elementary ofthe Spartanburg County School District 2 has won the 2010 ExemplaryReading Program Award for the state of South Carolina, awarded by theInternational Reading Association and the South Carolina ReadingAssociation. Only one school per state receives the prestigious award,which recognizes outstanding reading and language arts programs acrossthe United States.
The school’s secret? Principal Nicha Jordan credits teacher training anda balanced literacy approach. We believe the aspects of our readingworkshops are non-negotiable and we include read-alouds, shared reading,guided reading, independent reading, and one-on-one conferencing andformative assessment, explains Ms. Jordan. Our emphasis on teachertraining has strengthened and expanded our classroom instruction toreflect a diverse set of instructional groups, including small groups,literature circles, novel studies, whole group, readers’ theatre, andone-on-one interventions.
As part of the balanced literacy program, the school uses AmericanReading Company’s 100 Book Challenge as the structured independentreading system for use at school and at home, requiring daily parentinvolvement to monitor reading practice. According to Dr. Quincie Moore,Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for the Spartanburg CountySchool District 2, American Reading Company’s approach to professionaldevelopment has helped lay the foundation for expert literacyinstruction in all of our schools district-wide. We are committed toteacher training and making sure that every teacher has the skills andtools needed to ensure success for every student.
According to Jane Hileman, Founder and CEO of American Reading Company,Principal Jordan is a tremendously gifted principal. I am proud of hermany successes and congratulate her on this prestigious award, alongwith the students, parents, teachers, and the Spartanburg 2 districtleadership who have all contributed to this outstanding readingprogram.
Carlisle-Foster’s Grove will be recognized nationally during the 55thAnnual Convention of the International Reading Association in Chicago,Illinois, on Sunday April 25th. Both Ms. Jordan and Mrs. Teresa Burnett,the school literacy coach, will travel to Chicago to attend the awardsceremony.
About American Reading Company
American Reading Company transforms school cultures to createsustainable reading achievement through training, management, andmonitoring. The company was founded in 1998 and is now based in King ofPrussia, Pennsylvania. Today, more than a million students in 2,100schools across 420 districts in 41 states participate in the company’sprograms, which include Action 100, 100 Book Challenge, Research Labs,and Summer School Express. For more information, please visit www.americanreading.com.
