Jonathan Alder students show board of education members Tuesday how they break down and examine words as part of the district’s reading program implemented earlier this year. Teacher Bryce Swartz gave a presentation that further explained the Orton-Gillingham methodology that seven of the district’s teachers are getting certifications in. Pictured from left to right are Steve Votaw, board member; Laurel Bookman, student; Bruce Hooley, board member; Erica Detweiler, board member; Maggie Zornes, student; Sonia Walker, board president; Beau Zornes, student and Bill McCartney, board member.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Michael Williamson)
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Several Jonathan Alder teachers are working toward certification in an instruction method that aims to help students who struggle with reading comprehension.
Teacher Bryce Swartz told board of education members Tuesday that she and six other teachers are working toward those certifications from the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) in what she called the “Orton-Gillingham” instruction methods as well as structured literacy and dyslexia intervention.
According to the IMSE website, the Orton-Gillingham approach was “designed to help struggling readers by explicitly teaching the connections between letters and sounds.” The method was created in the 1930s by neuropsychiatrist and pathologist Dr. Samuel T. Orton and educator, psychologist Anna Gillingham.
Swartz said while the Orton-Gillingham method isn’t a curriculum, it is an approach to teaching that better addresses students’ needs by giving them better tools.
This is the first year the program has been applied in the district in Plain City and Monroe elementary schools and has so far been successful.
“I am optimistic for the future and hope that we continue to encourage an educational journey that’s infused with the joy of reading and a never-ending curiosity to learn more,” she said.
The methodology comes from the IMSE curriculum and uses a combination of activities to connect students with the structure and makeup of words. One part of the process is to introduce students to “phonological awareness” or associating words and letters with sounds.
“These activities are used to develop the ability to identify and manipulate sounds, or phonemes, in words,” Swartz said.
During the visual portion of word breakdowns, students look at letters and say the sound aloud that is associated with that letter. Similarly during auditory activities, teachers will say the letter sounds and students will write the letter out or even draw them in a box of sand as a way to connect the sound with a visual and textural element.
“When introducing new concepts, we once again engage those multiple senses of sight, hearing, kinesthetic movement to activate those neural pathways,” Swartz said. “This allows for enhanced memory retention.”
Teachers use other methods such as syllabication, or dividing words into units of sound to better understand pronunciation and word structure, Swartz added.
Students then demonstrated their abilities to break down those words for board members. Swartz said teachers being willing and able to get access to these tools are ultimately what makes the difference in a student struggling or succeeding.
“Please consider the following analogy. Just as bakers may start with identical ingredients, we can provide teachers with the same supplies and materials; we can also offer teachers the same curriculum, which is akin to providing bakers with the same recipe,” she said. “However, the crucial determinant in the success of the outcome lies in the individual who’s executing the process.”
Also at the meeting Tuesday, the board accepted the bid for the demolition of the former elementary school at 340 West Main Street in Plain City. The winning bid came from Complete Demolition Services.
Josh Predovich with SHP, an architectural firm in Columbus, said the site would be available to start work by the end of this month.
“(The contractor has) some documentation they have to submit, then we’ll get a contract together,” he said. “Then they also have to file with the EPA and that’s a 10-day wait period once they file.”
While there were some concerns over the timing of a grant being available to help with demolition, Predovich said that shouldn’t interfere with the work.
The district applied for money from the Site Revitalization program through Madison County though those funds may not be available until summer.
The county pledged $300,000 of the nearly $500,000 that was quoted as the bid amount.
And that number was significantly lower than the original estimate, which exceeded $800,000.
“It was a very strong support and we’re very happy at the bid opening to see the pricing and how it was lower than the estimate, which frees up money that we set aside for site improvement to get that site ready for build if we decide to build on it or any other general improvements to the facility,” said Treasurer Mark Ingles.
Alder officials have not yet decided what will be done with the property, noting that it will be discussed as the district continues with facility planning conversations.