Fairmont Media Kit
Media Contacts
Danyelle Knight
dknight@fairmontschools.com
714.504.1085
Alyssa Mihm
amihm@fairmontschools.com
714.234.2780
Media Contacts
Danyelle Knight
dknight@fairmontschools.com
714.504.1085
Alyssa Mihm
amihm@fairmontschools.com
714.234.2780
|
|
||||
Fairmont Introduces Ability Grouping in Kindergarten; Efforts Continue to Individualize LearningMarch 2009 |
||||
|
Anaheim, Calif., March 1, 2009 — With the
adoption of a new series of textbooks this fall, Fairmont’s early
childhood students will receive more individualized instruction in the subjects
of reading and language arts. Although many teachers already employ strategies to accommodate the variety of learning levels found in their classrooms, the language arts program in kindergarten through third grade has, for the most part, been based around a series of books that promote whole-class instruction, according to Sandy Cosgrove, director of education at Fairmont Private Schools. And while for the past decade the Open Court reading series has proved to be effective in teaching such building blocks as phonics, Fairmont teachers at the Mable, Edgewood, Citron and Anaheim Hills campuses felt it was time for a change. They have been researching alternative texts that would also allow for more literary exploration and comprehension in the classroom through such methods as ability grouping. "Whenever we can tailor our educational offerings to the individual child, we are providing much more relevant and valuable learning," Cosgrove said. "Children learn better when the teaching is geared specifically to their ability to grasp it and to their learning needs." Teachers also are taking a step toward ability grouping in these early elementary grades in an effort to meet the needs expressed by parents. Surveys of parents suggest that they want more individualized instruction for their children. This new development for kindergartners through third graders is a step toward meeting their expectations. (Fourth- through sixth-grade teachers already apply the ability-grouping method in math and reading.) Instead of trying to teach to their classes as a whole, K-3 teachers this fall will divide their students into groups based on various assessments and teacher recommendations. Then, the teacher will work with one group at a time, allowing personalized instruction depending on the group’s particular needs. Meanwhile, other groups will learn how to work independently through focused lessons, including writing activities and hands-on exercises, Cosgrove explained. |
| View all newsroom articles Printer Friendly |
|
About Fairmont With five, WASC-accredited campuses in the Orange County area, Fairmont Private Schools is the oldest and largest family of private schools in Southern California. Starting in preschool and continuing through high school graduation, Fairmont prepares students to succeed in colleges of quality and challenges them to become exemplary citizens of a global society. |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Alyssa Mihm amihm@fairmontschools.com |
| Share Your Thoughts |