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Brookwood expands AIM Block across K–6, cites early literacy gains and plans for more gifted services
Summary
Brookwood Elementary staff told the Hamilton City School Board they are running 55 daily AIM Block small groups districtwide for K–6, reported decreases in students scoring well below benchmark in early literacy, and outlined targeted professional development and plans to expand gifted services.
Assistant Principal Kayla Ritchie told the Hamilton City School Board that Brookwood Elementary has implemented a 30‑minute daily AIM Block for all kindergarten through sixth‑grade students to provide targeted reading instruction and intervention.
The AIM Block, Ritchie said, uses small groups formed from MAP, Amplify and DIBELS data and is staffed by classroom teachers, Title I staff, interventionists, special education teachers and instructional coaches. “Our goal is simple but powerful, to ensure that every child grows at least 1 year academically on MAP reading assessment,” Ritchie said.
The initiative is embedded in the building’s Multi‑Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and, Ritchie said, emphasizes explicit instruction in phonics, morphology, Orton‑Gillingham strategies, fluency and comprehension. Brookwood staff reported operating 55 AIM Block groups daily so that 100 percent of students receive instruction at their instructional level.
Literacy coach Brittany Galbraith summarized recent assessment trends: while AMP/Amplify and DIBELS results showed declines in the share of students scoring “well below” benchmark — kindergarten well‑below decreased from 62 percent to 44 percent, and second grade “above benchmark” rose from about 7 percent to 22 percent — MAP growth results were mixed. “While we’re not seeing the overall growth we hope for in our MAP data, this information helps us analyze our current position and identify areas for improvement,” Galbraith said, noting MAP dips in kindergarten and first grade that staff attribute in part to the district’s recent rollout of a new EL reading program.
The Brookwood team described continuous planning and data review cycles: initial AIM Block scheduling and planning in May and July, group formation and beginning‑of‑year lessons from Title staff, midyear adjustments after reviewing state report card and winter data, and monthly grade‑level meetings to monitor progress. Staff also reported additional professional development: teachers in grades 3–6 attended training by gifted curriculum specialist Amy Alexander, and coaches are doing a book study focused on coaching for gifted learners.
Board members commended the work and raised resource concerns. Board member Dr. Kopas said, “For years, I’ve been advocating that we have to get into students in kindergarten, first grade, and third grade need to know how to read. If we don’t get them there, we’re gonna lose them.” Another board member noted that 52 percent of staff reported having needed resources and encouraged continued attention to teacher supports.
Brookwood’s next steps, as presented, include continuing monthly data reviews, allocating additional collaborative planning time, expanding enrichment for gifted students, and setting year goals to increase MAP growth and to have 76 percent of third graders score proficient or higher on the reading OST.
The presentation was given during the board’s open session; there was no formal action taken on the AIM Block presentation.
