Academics

Multi Tiered Systems of Support At Heusner

What is MTSS?

MTSS is a coherent continuum of evidence based, system-wide practices to support a rapid response to academic and behavioral needs, with frequent data-based monitoring for instructional decision-making to empower each Kansas student to achieve to high standards.

What We Know...

• The earlier school staff can assess students' needs and identify those with difficulties, the quicker and less expensive the task is to help those struggling learners catch up.
• The longer a student goes without assistance, the longer the remediation time and the more intense the services must be.
• There is emerging evidence that many students who struggle in the early grades cannot catch up if we wait until 3rd or 4th grade to deliver intensive remediation.

Heusner Core Beliefs

We believe in establishing a sense of urgency to identify at risk students earlier and provide effective instruction so that all students reach grade level standards.

• We believe in being prevention oriented - Early identification and early intervention is an essential key for student success.
• We believe change is urgent, intentional, and right for each child.
• We believe that every child can learn and achieve to high standards.
• We believe that learning includes differentiated academics and social skills.

How to achieve our core beliefs:

• Every child will be provided intensive and effective teaching.
• Academic and behavior data will drive instruction and help the team to make informed decisions about what instruction is necessary.
• Interventions will be provided at the earliest identification of need.
• Instruction will be based on research based strategies.
• Resources will be intentionally designed and redesigned to match students' needs.
• Academic and behavior data will be gathered to make informed decisions.
• Every educator will continuously gain knowledge and develop expertise.
• Educators, families, and community members will be part of the practice of effective problem solving and instructional decision making.

Heusner Math

 

 

 

 

Heusner math teachers...

• Instill a love of math and a growth mindset in their students
• Take risks and are willing to try new things
• Are intentional about planning for instruction
• Relate math to the real world
• Incorporate games hands on activities to make learning math fun!

 

Your involvement in your child’s education can have a significant impact on his or her success in school.  Throughout the year, you will have opportunities to visit your student’s classroom during math and see them in action. Your student’s teacher will also send home parent tip sheets and easy to play at-home games that explain math strategies and models, provide key vocabulary, sample problems, and at home math suggestions. Take these opportunities to play and learn alongside your child!

 

Math at Heusner includes:

• Whole Group Math, in which students are exposed to on-grade level standards
• Small Group Math, in which students participate in teacher led centers as well as independent centers that are differentiated to each student’s math needs

Thank you for your support of math at Heusner!

If you have questions, contact Jennifer Marshall, Heusner Math Coach.

Jen Marshall

jen.marshall@usd305.com

785-309-4200

OUR SCHOOL CARES ABOUT READING

 

Heusner School and the Heusner Staff are excited to be a part of the reading initiative focused on helping every child reach his/her potential in reading. The Heusner staff recognizes that reading is the most important subject taught in the elementary school years. A solid reading foundation is essential for every child to be successful in school and in life.  After researching best practices for reading, the Heusner staff has developed a reading program for Heusner students including the following key elements:

• Intensive, early intervention to give kindergartners and first graders a solid reading foundation
• Students reading at their level with the opportunity to progress at their own rate
• Small class size for struggling readers
• Exposure to quality, real literature through oral reading by the teacher to increase vocabulary of readers
• A rich variety of reading materials at the students’ reading skill level
• Increased opportunities for increasing reading fluency through partner reading
• Attention to meaningful vocabulary development related to the reading selection
• Emphasis on reading comprehension through higher order questioning skills and rich class discussion
• Exposure to a variety of literature genre
• Attention to not only narrative selections but also expository, persuasive, and technical reading

 

How is the Reading Initiative Implemented at Heusner?

Heusner staff has set aside a portion of the school day as an uninterrupted reading instruction time. Whole group instruction where students are exposed to on grade level text and skills. Whole group is with a grade level teacher. Small group reading time is where students are reading text at their instructional level and teachers help students gain missing skills or extending and enriching their skills. Certified teachers including the Title teachers and interrelated special education teachers—join homeroom teachers as reading instructors during the small group time. Increasing the number of reading teachers creates opportunities for students to receive feedback.

Throughout the year each student’s reading level is monitored. Phonics, vocabulary, fluency, accuracy, and comprehension are monitored monthly. Due to the flexible groups, students may be moved to a different level at anytime during the year to match their reading progress.  We ask parents to set aside time at home to read with their child on a daily basis.

 

If you have questions, contact our Reading coach, JaNae Brin.

JaNae Brin

janae.brin@usd305.com

785-309-4200