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Bethlehem district reviews first year of K–5 Bookworms, staff stress fidelity and supports
Summary
District staff told the school board the Bookworms K–5 ELA curriculum completed its first full year of implementation with 30 pilot teachers, introduced lab-classroom coaching, and will use i-Ready fluency probes to track progress; staff emphasized following the program for multiple years while building supports for differentiation and sensitive topics.
The Bethlehem Central School District presented a review of the first full year of its Bookworms K–5 English language arts curriculum and the supports the district says are needed to implement it with fidelity.
Superintendent Dan opened the presentation by noting the district selected Bookworms in part because it uses full-length authentic texts and that students beginning in kindergarten will be exposed to 265 full-length titles across K–5. Allison Hefferan, the district's K'2 instructional coach, described a lab-classroom coaching model she used this year: two teachers from each grade (including co-taught classrooms) participate as lab partners, she models lessons and co-teaches, and the classroom teachers then share practices with colleagues. "I go in every week and I teach," Hefferan said, explaining that videotaped lessons and a link hub give other teachers access when they cannot observe in person.
District staff said professional development began the spring prior to Year 1 and…
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