School Reform

New School Year, New Approach To Teaching Reading

by | Oct 3, 2023 10:15 am | Comments (6)

NHPS slide

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Supervisor of Elementary Reading and Language Arts Jennifer Tousignant.

In an effort to improve reading levels for the city school district’s youngest students, New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) has created a new 90-minute literacy block outline for kindergarten through third-grade educators — all based off of the district’s recently adopted core literacy program.

That block includes 30 minutes of phonics instruction, 20 minutes of whole group structured literacy learning, and 40 minutes of small group instruction. 

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At Convocation, NHPS Dances To School Year's Start

by | Aug 29, 2023 4:33 pm | Comments (17)

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Supt. Madeline Negrón salsa dances her way towards the 2023-24 school year ...

... at the annual, music-and-culture-filled NHPS convocation.

The nation’s top education official, Miguel Cardona, offered a custom playlist with a song for every occasion for New Haven teachers as they get ready for the start of the school year on Thursday.

Track 1: Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony, as a reminder to enjoy the work you do.

Track 2: Respect” by Aretha Franklin, for when politics tries to creep its way into the classroom.

Track 3: Livin’ on a Prayer” by Jon Bon Jovi, for January when we’re halfway there.”

Track 4: Valio La Pena” by Marc Anthony, to know it’s worth it.

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Education Justice Vision Takes Shape

by | May 1, 2023 11:04 am | Comments (5)

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Nakeshia Alford & her kids at teachers union-hosted education justice town hall.

Higher quality school lunches. More reliable school bus transportation. Enough hand soap and paper towels in all school bathrooms. And better work opportunities for public-school students under the age of 16.

New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) students put forward those goals among many others as they joined parents, teachers, and education allies in defining what a fully funded city school district could look like.

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Student Voices Heard In Citywide Council Vote

by | Apr 26, 2023 8:56 am | Comments (9)

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Ta’LannaMonique Lawson-Dickerson with NHPS students Chyna Lopes, Naylanee Alejandro, and Kate Kim at April monthly Citywide Student Council meetup.

Roughly 40 high-schoolers from across New Haven gathered on Sherman Parkway to cast their votes in support of having a greater say in school district decision making, higher-quality facilities, a more socially relevant curriculum, and increased investment in student well-being and restorative justice.

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Educators Praise Reading Pilot Kickoff

by | Jan 30, 2023 4:48 pm | Comments (0)

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Clinton Avenue literacy coach Marilyn Ciarleglio (center) with NHPS Asst. Supt. Keisha Redd-Hannans.

Clinton Avenue School literacy coach Marilyn Ciarleglio has spent the past week getting a refreshing” taste of a new K‑3 reading curriculum that has a Spanish-language component that’s been a gamechanger in helping teach multilingual students to read. 

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State Presses City On Absenteeism

by | Dec 21, 2022 3:30 pm | Comments (19)

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CT Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker: "I want Team New Haven to know that the Department of Education is here to support the work that you are doing."

Tuesday's state delegation-organized meeting about NHPS.

Connecticut’s top education official and New Haven state lawmakers called city public school district leaders to the table for a reality check on student chronic absenteeism — and for a discussion on improving local public education while working as one Team New Haven.”

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TAG Turns Into "Wellness Wednesday"

by | Dec 19, 2022 2:23 pm | Comments (2)

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First grader K'Jalee makes tasty treat for birds during Wellness Wednesday, an outdoors and inclusive successor to a talented and gifted program.

Students looking for color inspiration for their art class mandalas.

An Edgewood School first grader spooned sun butter and Cheerios onto a pinecone to feed a hungry bird. 

Nearby, one of her fourth grade schoolmates found inspiration for a classroom art project in a pale-yellow house with green shutters. 

And in an outdoor classroom area near Yale Avenue, an eighth grader weaved coral-colored yarn around two sticks to make a dream catcher to beautify her school, all as a part of a unique effort to address both social emotional challenges in the classroom and concerns about exclusivity in enrichment programs.

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Reading Experts Chart Path To Phonics

by | Dec 8, 2022 9:16 am | Comments (8)

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Ashley Stockton (center) at "Tell Me Why It Works" panel.

The stakes of learning the wrong way to read are more than just academic for Ashley Stockton.

The Wexler-Grant teacher saw firsthand how her son with dyslexia struggled in school when following a now-outdated method that prioritizes looking for clues and guessing at words — and she saw how his literacy improved when, with the help of a costly private tutor, he began to sound words out.

Stockton shared that story of her shift in understanding about how reading can and should be taught during a panel discussion called, Tell Me Why It Works: The Science Behind Reading.”

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New Reading Plan Cautiously Embraced

by | Sep 30, 2022 10:28 am | Comments (3)

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NHPS Supervisor of Literacy Lynn Brantley presents plan at City Hall hearing.

Committee alders welcomed the New Haven Public Schools’ (NHPS) new math and literacy plan — which officials claimed may shift towards a more phonics-based structured” reading program — while questions arose about whether the draft proposal is complete enough to effect significant needed change.

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Teachers Seek Support In Trying Times

by | Apr 4, 2022 9:12 am | Comments (22)

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Teacher/parent Sarah Levine pitches a shift in reading strategy.

The job description has grown. The pay and support haven’t.

Meanwhile, not enough kids are learning to read — in part because of the method they’re being taught.

So New Haven Public School (NHPS) teachers informed city alders at a once-a-year chance to check in and have their voices heard.

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