Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elementary Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ben Franklin Elementary showcases daily 'WIN' literacy blocks and tiered supports
Summary
Ben Franklin Elementary staff and students described 'WIN' (What I Need), a daily 30-minute small-group literacy/intervention block, and the school's use of PLCs, MLSS and tiered interventions to meet student needs and track progress.
Ben Franklin Elementary presented to the Franklin Public School District board on Jan. 14, outlining a schoolwide approach to literacy built around "WIN" time — "What I Need" — a dedicated 30-minute daily block for small-group instruction, interventions and targeted support.
Amanda Boris, a first-grade teacher, and other staff described how WIN time is embedded in the schedule and used for tiered interventions. "WIN stands for what I need," a first grader said during the board presentation, describing stations that include one-on-one support, interventionist pull-outs and independent computer practice with programs such as Lexia and Zearn. Staff said the time lets teachers group students flexibly each day based on current assessment data.
School presenters explained WIN is part of a broader multilevel systems of support (MLSS) that pairs data-driven decision-making with professional learning communities (PLCs). Presenters said the school’s goal is to move students from below the 60th percentile to above the 60th percentile and that, at their smaller school size, shifting two to three students per classroom could meet the schoolwide improvement target.
Teachers described tier 2 and tier 3 interventions that can run between one and five days per week depending on need; tier 3 is not special education, staff clarified. Staff highlighted student progress monitoring: "They take lots of notes. They then use those notes to design the plan for WIN time," a student narrator said, reflecting teacher practice. Teachers also described parent communication tools (reading bags, short home tasks and a simple note area) to connect interventions to home practice.
Board members asked whether tiers apply across all grade levels and whether parents are notified when students move between tiers. Staff responded that tiered supports are used at all grade levels and that parents are notified and provided resources to support the work at home.
The presentation closed with the school’s stated values — the "Ben Way" ("believe in yourself, encourage others, never stop learning") — and a video and student remarks intended to show how WIN time looks in practice. The board thanked staff and students for the demonstration; no formal board action was required on the presentation.
