District invests $500,000 in elementary curriculum

PHOTO - School board members go back to school as Curriculum Coordinator Casey Monahan simulates a 3rd grade lesson using the newly adopted materials.

Walla Walla Public Schools took a giant leap forward last night in supporting the district’s youngest learners by investing nearly $500,000 in Pearson’s ReadyGEN for K-5 English Language Arts and Spanish Language Arts curriculum. This significant adoption provides teachers and students literacy materials, in Spanish and English, which are aligned to standards and rigorous enough to support students in becoming Washington’s most sought after graduates.

“This adoption is a critical step in supporting students in becoming proficient readers and writers with skills to meet College and Career ready standards,” said Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Christy Krutulis. “This significant investment in quality rigorous materials is also a critical step toward developing aligned and coherent systems and will pay dividends in years to come for student learning.”

It has been nine years since elementary teachers were provided core curriculum materials for reading and writing. Since this time there has been a shift in standards and a recognition students need regular practice with complex text and need the opportunity to build knowledge as they are building reading and writing skills, according to Krutulis.

Over the last 18 months, more than 40 staff have been involved in the process of selecting and piloting materials. The Peason ReadyGEN materials rose to the top during this process.

“The adoption of these materials will provide teachers the instructional supports needed to ensure all Walla Walla Public School elementary students have access to rigorous and aligned instruction,” said Curriculum Coordinator Casey Monahan. “A teacher on the Instructional Materials Review committee excitedly noted the increase in reading and writing skill students will now have when moving to the secondary level will support their learning of social studies content, for example.”

Next steps for implementation of these new materials has already begun. Professional learning for staff is being systematically developed to support teachers as they move to using ReadyGEN to support students at all levels to achieve proficiency in their literacy skills. Professional development opportunities will begin this summer and continue next year.