St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School (SSAES) is excited to accept a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Title IIIA grant. The primary purposes of this grant are to ensure that English learners attain proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in all academic subjects; and to assist teachers (including preschool teachers), principals, and other school leaders in establishing, implementing, and sustaining effective language instruction educational programs designed to assist in teaching English learners. As a bilingual school, SSAES students are challenged to become proficient in both English and Armenian.
SSAES has used the DESE funding to purchase the Kindergarten level Geodes Classroom Library, expanding the grades (1 and 2) that use these books currently. Geodes aligns with the Wilson Fundations reading program scope and sequence that the school uses. After incorporating the Grade 1 Geodes Reading program last school year, SSAES witnessed a positive impact on reading scores with the average score rising across the board.
The Geodes Classroom Library helps students meet the challenge of proficiency while building upon their knowledge in other academic areas at the same time. The Kindergarten Library is organized into four topic areas: the 5 Senses, Once Upon a Farm, America-Then and Now, and the Continents, Kindergarten students will build knowledge about science, history, and the arts, while developing reading skills from day one. Each grade level addresses different content areas while expanding students’ reading skill sets.
Recently, five SSAES faculty members attended a Geodes training. The participants: Reading Specialist Mrs. Catherine Izzo, Second-grade Teacher Ms. Rebecca Webb, First-grade Teacher Ms. Stephanie Grossman, Kindergarten teacher Ms. Erin Mouradian, and lead Teaching Assistant Mrs. Kelly Marini, were unanimous about how advantageous it is to have both Geodes and Fundations as core pieces in the school’s Language Arts Curriculum.
Mrs. Izzo noted, “In the training we learned how other schools, including ones locally, use Geodes, how beneficial it is particularly in small group instruction, and how these books help all students grow as readers even as they access the same text.” She further explained that “since Geodes directly connects with Fundations, it goes hand in hand with the phonics being taught in our Kindergarten through second-grade classrooms. Each module can be used in flexible ways for all students, and the time reading in small groups is most important.” After observing Geodes in action, Dr. Palandjian expressed, “Through Geodes, SSAES is abreast of the latest proven trends in teaching English language literacy and in line with area elementary schools. We are grateful to DESE for awarding this grant to SSAES and look forward to our students benefitting from it.”
St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School and Preschool is the only Armenian day school in New England. Licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), its mission is to provide a high quality Armenian and American education, develop a strong Armenian identity in each child, promote and nurture the Armenian language and culture, develop self-esteem and leadership skills in students create a child-centered, nurturing learning environment that facilitates the students’ success, and foster an intimate school community that encourages family involvement and connections. For more information about SSAES and our programs please browse our website.