Waterford Early Learning Program : The Waterford Early Learning Program (WERP) is designed to move the focus of teaching to early achievement and growth, rather than remediation. WERP instruction targets three levels of readers: instruction-emergent; beginning; and fluent. Using highly interactive software, instruction is tailored to each student’s needs and abilities. Teachers are provided with weekly assessments and are provided with training in how to use the assessment results to guide instruction. Students are provided with an at-home library and video tapes to build reading skills and to help parents guide student learning.

Class Libraries: Each classroom has numerous library books for the children to borrow and read at home. Teachers maintain a log of each child’s reading. Book reports are required for third, fourth and fifth grade children. In addition, third, fourth and fifth grades have class sets of well-known children’s literature for in-class use and guided reading lessons.

Assessments: New students will take pre and post Iowa Test of Basic Skills baseline test whereas returning students will take the ITBS each June. The baseline results determine each child’s reading strength and the areas in need of strengthening. Our Targeted Assistance Program and After School Tutoring provide individualized remediation using the ITBS as a guide. Children in kindergarten through second grade also take the Fox in a Box Test as a baseline and post-test. This individually administered test assists the teacher in providing effective, individualized lesson plans. All test results are distributed to parents/guardians.