Washington Teachers Host Program
at Tri-CYA
Math and reading came alive on a recent evening at the Tri-CYA in the Big H Shopping Center as Washington Primary School faculty members hosted second grade parents for a math and reading initiative.
The 90 minute session was organized by Washington’s National Board certification candidates Claudia Gonzalez (ESL), Miriam Engle (first grade dual language) and Christine Lofaro (math teacher and math coach.) The goal of the initiative is to reach out and connect the school, parents and community to provide educational support to the children of HUFSD.
“Last summer we discussed the idea of reaching out to community centers to support both parents and students with educational needs,” Mrs. Lofaro explained. Mrs. Gonzalez met with the directors of the community homework help centers in September to discuss how the teachers could connect and what, if any, challenges the centers were experiencing.
“The discussion grew into how Huntington educators could assist the centers in supporting education in the community,” Mrs. Lofaro said. That session led to an informational meeting for second grade parents prior to last fall’s Back to School Night, a workshop for students and parents at the Huntington Station branch of the public library and Tri-CYA staff training.
The purpose of the parent-student meetings was to encourage parents to become partners in their child’s education by providing them with specific fluency activities in reading and math.
Parents learned strategies to reinforce essential reading and math skills that second grade students need to know.
The three Washington teachers offered training to the Tri-CYA staff in January that focused on reading and math fluency and homework help strategies.
The recent parent night at Tri-CYA’s facility drew a crowd of folks interested in helping their children succeed in school. “The event was the culmination of several parent workshops and meetings that were held throughout the school year,” Mrs. Gonzalez said. “The evening was a success. Our goal moving into the 2014/15 school year is to continue this initiative.”
The students that turned out for the evening were energetic. “The children thoroughly enjoyed engaging in the various reading and math activities,” Mrs Lofaro said. “The students who participated were each provided with a math goodie bag filled with items to use when practicing math fluency.”
Looking back over the past year, the three Washington teachers feel they have made progress and are pleased with the results. “This initiative could not have taken place without the support and encouragement of the Washington Primary Principal Marsha Neville,” Mrs. Lofaro said.