Schools in Taylorville are using a new curriculum for reading and phonics with lower grade levels. The goal is to improve literacy outcomes, which have been worse than school district officials would like to see. The curriculum combines in-class activities and frequent assessments with technological integration, and faculty and staff members are calling for parents to do their part to continue the learning at home.
Cara Thomas is an instructional coach for Taylorville CUSD #3 and played a major role in developing the new curriculum. She says it aims to keep all teachers and classrooms on the same pace in its implementation.
In the time the curriculum has been in place, teachers and administrators are seeing notable progress in learning. They use pre- and post-tests to measure outcomes in students.
Dawn Reiser is the school district’s technology integrationist for kindergarten through fourth grade. She says the district is using robotics and other hands-on tools as part of the classroom experience with the new curriculum.
The use of technology goes well beyond the English language arts courses. Tammy Reindl, the technology integrationist for grades five through twelve, says classes at those levels are using robotics even more routinely.
More information on Taylorville CUSD #3 is available at tcusd3.org.
Tammy Reindl, Dawn Reiser, and Cara Thomas appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show as part of our monthly Taylorville Schools Good News Segment.
