School News: Focus on literacy: Students immersed in reading

Southeast School is a second grade attendance center in Marshall Public Schools. This year we have the following classes: eight sections of second grade and two sections of kindergarten.

Our class size in second grade and kindergarten averages about 23 students. Our current enrollment is 215 students.

Through our Professional Learning Communities, our focus at Southeast Elementary is on student learning.

At Southeast we take a "Balanced Classroom" approach, which we call "Break out Classes for Guided Reading" as part of our Communication Arts program.

We have set aside a one hour reading block for guided reading time. Four teachers work together as a team. We have two teams of teachers. They plan small groups and literacy centers around the level of the students they work with.

Students are immersed in lessons, activities and literacy centers specific to their level.

The Title teacher and special education teacher also push in during this block of time to support those students who need extra help. The students are assessed and monitored on a regular basis, which helps facilitate appropriate placement.

To further promote the importance of reading and welcome our new students to Southeast Elementary this year, we hosted a back to school barbecue and reading night supported by the Marshall Public Education Foundation.

All students and their families were invited to attend on Sept. 15. Besides having dinner, each student also received a book bag to use all year and a new book.

The event was a great success. We would also like to thank Cargil, Chartwells Food Service, and Steve Heinzler for their generosity and support.

Our school discipline is based on the Ozanam B.I.S.T. model. "We accept all children where they are and want them to have a safe learning environment. It is OK for a child to have a problem, but it is not OK for the child to stay stuck there. We will help the child to own responsibility for the problem, and to develop a plan to take responsibility for his/her actions and solve the problem."

Our belief is that all children have the right to learn and if a child's behavior interferes with their ability to learn, then we will help that child develop a plan to take responsibility for his/her actions and solve the problem.

We at Southeast School are committed to providing an educational program and environment that will meet individual student academic, social and emotional needs. All students are encouraged to reach their potential.

Our mission statement at Southeast Elementary; we educate students to become lifelong learners.