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Druid Hills Elementary
Martinsville, VA

Druid Hills has used the Waterford Early Reading Program™ to serve the needs of its unprepared kindergarten students since 1997. Based largely on feedback from kindergarten teachers, the program was expanded school-wide (and then district-wide) in 1998. In the fall of 2000, one kindergarten teacher was selected to begin testing of Waterford Early Math & Science Level One. Druid Hills will serve as a Waterford Early Math & Science™ test site (for Levels Two and Three) through Fall 2003. Kindergarten teachers at Druid Hills meet weekly for team planning. They discuss Waterford data and use reports to make adjustments to lessons plans. Teachers facilitate the program, and review specific activities using the demonstration mode of the program. Usage is reviewed regularly by teachers, principals, and administrative staff to plan curriculum and evaluate progress. Waterford materials are integrated into the Martinsville City School Curriculum Guides. Waterford books, CDs, and videos are used to reinforce instruction, and are sent home through a "lending library." Videos are given out at conference time and returned at the end of the school year. Parents attend an Open House and an Orientation to learn about the importance of Waterford materials. As the year progresses, students are encouraged to read their own books aloud to a friend or to the class.
  

Evidence and Results

Waterford has had a positive impact on the students at Druid Hills. In Spring 2002, 84% of first graders passed the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS), while scores in previous years were as low as 58%. Kindergarten students who completed Waterford Early Math & Science in kindergarten tested at a 100% passing rate on the locally-developed Standards of Learning Assessments (SOL) for math compared to the class average of 90%. This same group also scored at a 100% passing rate on science, compared to an 83% passing rate for kindergarten overall.

  
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