(L to R): Dr. Lloyd Taylor (Principal), Christa Blick, Marjorie Hershberger, Mary Leventhal, Elaine Butler (ATP Chairperson), Tom Walls, Theresa Farnell (not shown).
Meet the Challenge to Involve More Families: Engage Parents and Improve Students’ Reading
Sudlersville Elementary School serves over 400 students in grades PreK-5 on Maryland’s eastern shore. It is a Title I school with successful students and goals for academic excellence. The Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) at Sudlersville Elementary School wanted to support the school’s goal of improving students’ reading comprehension skills by refocusing a popular event—Muffins for Moms—to increase parents’ capacities to support student reading at home. Invitation flyers were sent in English and in Spanish with RSVP forms attached. The event was moved to Sudlersville Fire Hall, a school community partner, and more families attended than in previous years. The Reading Specialist at Sudlersville presented ideas to parents on how to encourage and support reading comprehension. She not only provided information, but also modeled the practice on-site, and provided a summary that parents could take home. Each adult-student pair worked together on an interactive assignment during the event so that parents and children could practice reading together to perfect a new technique.
Reach Results for Student Success in School: Improve Social Studies
Knowledge and Experiences
With an historic Presidential election unfolding in 2008, students and parents of Sudlersville Elementary School were helped to understand democracy-in-action in the school’s Election Central project. In many social studies classes, students learned about citizenship in their school, community, and country. As part of the project, American Legion members visited 1st and 2nd grade classrooms to discuss the Pledge of Allegiance. The Queen Anne’s County (QAC) League of Women’s Voters provided voter education for students in grades 3–5. In collaboration with the nearby Middle School, students in grades 6 and 7 prepared for and participated in political debates. A mock election—with real electronic voting machines from the QAC Board of Elections—was held at the school so that students could put their new knowledge to work.
One evening, students conducted social studies activity booths, such as Know Your States, The Voting Maze, Founding Fathers’ Football, and an American History Corner. Teachers, dressed as historical celebrities, visited the History Corner at various times to tell the stories of the figures they represented. Community organizations conducted other activities. Nearly 1,000 attendees participated. The evening also included hot dogs and desserts, a display of a community tapestry, and musical performances by students. By charging nominal fees for some activities and for some food, the school recouped its costs and raised about $4,500 for new playground equipment for the school. Parents, teachers, and community members formed a team to work for voter education in the community, using the school’s Election Central project as a hub. Citizenship in Sudlersville reaped many benefits.
See Sudlersville Elementary School’s activity in Promising Partnership Practices 2009 on the website at www.partnershipschools.org in the section Success Stories. Visit the school at http://www.qacps.k12.md.us/ses/welcome.htm.