To the Editor:

The School of Discovery Genesis Center recently reached the mid-point (ended the first semester) of the 2006-2007 school year.

The faculty and staff are on pace to meet this year’s school wide goals.

The goals are to increase pupils’ standardized test scores in

all content areas tenfold over last year’s results and to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as defined in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) federal legislation

Student-centered instruction is an important component of the academic program at the School of Discovery Genesis Center.

Student-centered instruction is a form of basic skills education.

Teachers explain directly what students need to learn and then teach and demonstrate those skills (active teaching with the goal of helping children to directly learn the material).

There are several research-based strategies/programs employed at the School of Discovery Genesis Center.

They are as follows:

Accelerated Mathematics: This computerized program allows pupils to progress at their own rate as they master different mathematical concepts.

Alabama Reading Initiative: Teachers attended a two-week training session and a one week retooling session where research-based reading teaching strategies/methods were exposed. Alabama Reading Initiative attempts to raise the reading level of the less than adequate student reader.

Accelerated Reader/STAR Reader:

This program encourages students to read books. The pupil who reads the most books from the library in a nine week grading period, and passes a computerized test with 70 percent accuracy wins a prize.

Test Best, Scoring High, and Test Ready commercially prepared SAT 10 practice test.

READ 180: This is an intensive, adaptive intervention program designed to meet the needs of students in grades four and above whose reading achievement is below the proficient level. READ 180 delivers individualized, adjusted reading instruction to move students up to grade level, provides practice and the application of skills in multiple contexts to increase achievement, and supports and motivates students as they progress toward becoming lifelong readers and learners.

Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI): This training allows teachers to become more familiar with the latest technology and strategies/methods of hands-on inquiry based science and mathematics.

ThinkLink: This is an assessment tool/test that allows a teacher to pinpoint a student’s weaknesses/strengths.

ThinkLink is a good pre-test.

Auxiliary services offer after school tutoring programs. The school’s faculty and support staff are committed to excellence.

Gerald Shirley

Principal

School of Discovery