- What is STAR?
- How is the STAR program funded?
- What does STAR support involve?
- How can parents be involved?
- What do students do during their STAR class time?
- Do STAR students have homework in their STAR classes?
- What happens if my child loses his STAR reading book?
- Why was my child recommended for the Title 1/STAR program?
- Will my child have to be in STAR all through elementary school?
- Why was my child recommended for STAR in the middle of the year?
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What is STAR?
The STAR program stands for Strategic Teaching for Academic Reinforcement.
It is a regular education support program. Our name represents how we teach
for strategies (how to do something) not just memorization. STAR should not
be confused with SPED. SPED services children with documented learning
disabilities and SPED students are required to have an IEP (Individual
Education Plan). The STAR and SPED programs are not connected and are funded
separately.
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How is the STAR program funded?
Title 1, a federal entitlement program, funds the STAR program in Maynard.
We offer a comprehensive support program in literacy in grades 1
grade 3. We also offer a math support program for grades 2 and
through 3. Federal moneys are determined and allocated on a yearly
basis.
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What does STAR support involve?
Green Meadow is committed to early literacy and math intervention and we
support this goal. STAR support involves teaching reading by reading with
children at their instructional reading level, teaching writing in terms of
topic development and the writing conventions and reinforcing phonics in
both reading and writing. STAR support also involves teaching basic math
skills by reinforcing materials covered in the classroom math curriculum.
STAR teachers work with students four to five days a week for 30-40 minutes
each day.
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How can parents be involved?
Parent involvement is a major component of the STAR program. We have
meetings and workshops for parents, some of which involve children too. In
October, we hold a Parent Information Night for parents to meet the STAR
staff and receive information about the program. Throughout the course of
the school year we have a variety of evening programs for parents and
students. In the past we have had workshops for parents on techniques to use
when reading with children, programs to promote reading and Bingo for Books
Night.
Parents are asked to have their child read aloud to them every night for 10
minutes and look over any homework that they are assigned. Parents are also
asked to encourage their child to write a sentence or a paragraph, depending
on the grade level, at least two times a week. Parents of STAR math students
are asked to review appropriate math facts with their child nightly.
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What do students do during their STAR class time?
STAR support in grades 1 through 3 centers around specific intervention
programs designed to support students in areas where assessments have shown
they struggle. Some students participate in the My Sidewalks intensive
reading intervention program which is designed to accelerate struggling
readers' learning in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary,
fluency and text comprehension. Other students will receive extra phonics
support through small group instruction using leveled phonics readers,
Project Read or use of the computer based Lexia Learning program. Some
students will be part of a Read Naturally intervention group which is a
strategic reading intervention designed to improve vocabulary, reading
fluency and reading comprehension.
STAR math students work on learning basic number facts and to improve
speed and accuracy in math calculations.
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Do STAR students have homework in their STAR classes?
Every STAR student is expected to be reading a book at their reading level
for 10 minutes every night. Some students may be asked to complete
worksheets or write a sentence regarding what they have read.
Any book that a student brings home and is working on with their STAR
class needs to be returned the next day so they can continue their reading
during the STAR time.
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What happens if my child loses his STAR reading book?
If your child loses their STAR reading book, a $5.00 fee is charged. This
money is used to replace the book. STAR teachers depend on having multiple
copies of a book to use with their classes and the loss of even one book can
be significant. Unfortunately, we are not able to cash checks, so all
payments need to be in cash. Please put your payment in a sealed envelope
with the lost book form sent home by the STAR teacher. Then put the name of
the STAR techer on the front of the envelope and return it to school as soon
as possible. You can help your child not lose their STAR books by always
having a special place for their books. One option is to keep the book in
the child's backpack and make sure it is returned to the backpack when they
have finished their nightly reading.
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Why was my child recommended for the Title 1/STAR program?
Students are recommended for the STAR program based on classroom assessments
and the observations of the classroom teacher. Students who have scored
below grade level on the DRA reading test and At Risk or Some Risk on the
DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment or who
are struggling to work at grade level in reading and or math are considered
for the Title 1/STAR program. Classroom teachers discuss prospective
students with the Title 1/STAR teacher assigned to his/her classroom.
Together they determine which students would most benefit from participating
in the Title 1/STAR program.
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Will my child have to be in STAR all through elementary school?
Not necessarily. Many students struggle at various points during their
academic career. The purpose of the Title 1/STAR program is to provide extra
support to those who are struggling and to help them perform at grade level.
Once a child can perform at grade level independently they no longer need
the support of the Title 1/STAR program. When that independence is reached
the Title 1/STAR teacher will meet with the classroom teacher and suggest
that the student be "graduated" from the program.
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Why was my child recommended for STAR in the middle of the year?
A student is recommended for the Title 1/STAR program if they are struggling
to perform at grade level. Often a child begins a grade and has no problems
with the grade level material. As the year progresses and the material
becomes more challenging some students find they can not keep up and start
falling behind. In other cases a student might be facing difficulties at
home that are effecting his/her progress. When a classroom teacher notices a
student falling behind they often will recommend them for the STAR program.
It does not mean that the student has missed any material by starting the
program in the middle of the year. The student will be receiving help with
material that they are struggling with at that time.
