When Goshen students move from second grade to third, the transition comes with challenges. These young people leave their familiar Marr/Cook home and head to a new school with new teachers and new expectations.
But if recent test results are any indication, Spaulding Elementary’s third graders are thriving.
These students recently took the fall Ohio state test for Grade 3 English language arts and their scores were 8 percent higher than last year’s third graders. That puts them 12 percent above the state average and means that almost three fourths of the class are already on track to be promoted to fourth grade.
Ohio uses this test, given in the fall and the spring, for the state’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee requirement.
Spaulding Principal Ashley Andrews said she was thrilled to see third graders doing so well. She credits a combined effort between Marr/Cook and Spaulding teachers.
“Students come to Spaulding with a good foundation from Marr/Cook and the third grade team worked extremely hard to prepare students with a strong focus on growing good readers," Andrews said. “We also started our targeted reading interventions on the third day of school, as well. I think these scores are generally representative of great teachers/support staff and a common district focus!”
Goshen has instituted a number of measures to support young readers, and to help the teachers who teach them, said Assistant Superintendent Theresa Scherzinger. This includes a robust intervention program, and the addition of literary coaches, who help teachers with lesson plans, co-teach in the classroom, and who help students as well.