RANGELY I The Rangely School Board kicked off Jan. 19 meeting with a performance by the Parkview Elementary School fourth/fifth-grade choir, led by Parkview music teacher Sarah Campbell, setting the mood for some good news, including pay raises for certified staff.
The all-girl group entertained board members, school staff and parents with several Christmas songs.
After the performance, the board went into their regular meeting to discuss pay increases, budget changes and full-day kindergarten. They…
“Skills such as pencil grip and letter sounds are not mastered by the start of first grade for many students.” As one of the kindergarten teachers, I know for a fact I stressed proper pencil grip and letter sounds. I taught letter sounds every day during whole and small group instruction. I followed Colorado State Standards and utilized Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG), which is required by the state. In fact, CDE observed in my kindergarten room and chose me to be a teacher representative across the state-summer 2014 to help support kindergarten in the implementation of TSG. I also advocated heavily for full day kindergarten for the three years I was there. I think it’s vital for this push-down of academics that our country is asking. Would I do anything different? I would not. Were any of the first grade teachers in my room to see how I taught? It’s easy to blame the prior year. I know that I followed standards with fidelity.