What’s Right With Our Schools: ‘IREAD’ program helps students at Northwest Laurens Elementary excel in reading

LAURENS COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Teachers in Laurens County are hoping to get all of their students reading on grade level.

They’re utilizing a program to keep students focused and entertained at the same time.

Kindergarten through second grade students attending Northwest Laurens Elementary are learning how to read better using the ‘IREAD’ program.

It’s a way for teachers to easily differentiate instruction.

Dr. Amy Duke, Principal of Northwest Laurens Elementary says “IREAD is a computer-based program where students take an assessment at the beginning of the year and then they work at their own pace on phonics, fluency, comprehension and spelling.”

Sixty minutes of direct instruction is required for students inside the classroom.

“I get to spell them, read them and lots of stuff that helps me with. Lots of new strategies that can help me read,” says Darsey Nartin who is a student at Northwest Laurens.

Students are divided into groups. Some work with a teacher or paraprofessional goes over sight words. Others read or work independently on IREAD using the school’s ipads.

On the ipads, each student can create an avatar and go in different virtual classrooms to work on their literacy. It’s a tool that students say keeps them excited to learn.

“There’s different stuff you get to do. You get to decorate it into a superhero or a student,” adds Richard Mascara who also attends Northwest Laurens.

“The part I like best about IREAD is when we do the speed round. They say a word and then we have to click on it before the time runs out,” says Emma Watkins who is a student at Northwest Laurens.

Every day students work at a station for twenty minutes. This concept also helps teachers with monitoring students’ progress.

“The teachers can pull reports for instructional planning and determine which students need remediation or acceleration on various specific skills,” Dr. Duke continues.

The school purchased the ipads using penny sales tax dollars.