Focus on TUSD - May 2008

Computer Savvy
Waterford Learning System Engages Students, Promotes Learning
Children using the Waterford educational system are so anxious to begin each day that they ask, even before attendance is taken, when their turn will come.

That's because the Waterford system uses computer programming to engage and motivate children in reading, math and science. One at a time, for 15 minutes each, all the kindergarteners in the Tucson Unified School District, sit down for an individual session. Wearing headphones, they move through the program at a self-paced rate.

"I like the rhino guy on the seat that goes into the water," said Anjolie Plummer, a Collier Elementary School student. Her teacher, Kathy Cuprak, explained that the rhinoceros plunges under the surface when the user uses the right word, helping build vocabulary and spelling.

"I like how excited the kids are and how well they pay attention," she said. "Their pace of learning letters has jumped by leaps and bounds. They have even learned each other's first and last names because they're displayed on the screen."

Students are randomly called for their time at one Waterford-equipped computer, so they never miss the same information in class every day, Cuprak said. Holly Gatley, a TUSD curriculum specialist, said next year, each of Collier's four kindergarten classes will have two computers in the classroom with the Waterford system.

Becky Tanner's son, Wyatt, is one of the students who loves the program. As a member of the Collier technology team, Tanner put her technology degree to work by helping set up sample classes during the school's technology night. From there, she was appointed to help expand Waterford.

"I see the benefit of this and I wanted it to follow Wyatt to first- and second grade," said Tanner, who jokingly referred to herself as the "Waterford mom." "I was really impressed with Waterford and that's after I've worked in the technology industry for 13 years."

Waterford Deployment in District "A Huge Success"
Licenses to use the Waterford Early Reading and Math Program in all the Tucson Unified School District's kindergarten classes have been purchased from Pearson Education Services. Some schools already had purchased the program, which can be used from preschool through the second-grade, said Holly Gatley, a TUSD curriculum specialist.

TUSD focuses on reading with Waterford, for at least 15 minutes daily with kindergarteners who were in the "strategic" and "intensive" categories on the December DIBELS assessment. Because the program has three levels, students who were in the "benchmark" category also could use Waterford as an enrichment activity.

Pearson, along with Bob Kramer and Gatley, trained about 250 technology liaisons, kindergarten teachers and instructional coaches to implement Waterford or support the teachers. Kramer is a curriculum and innovation specialist.

In the week after the training was completed, consultants joined Gatley at the school sites to monitor progress and answer questions. "I think that was the key to the implementation," Gatley said. "Overall, the deployment was a huge success".

-- By Sharon Dunham
Communications & Media Relations

Photos in the May issue by Jes Ruvalcaba of Communications & Media Relations, unless otherwise noted.

The deadline to submit material for the June Focus is Friday, June 13. The Focus will be published Monday, June 23. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the online Tip Sheet.