Heart River Elementary
RESULTS of the Annual Assessment of Parental Involvement
for 2008 – 2009
*104 surveys returned
K ~ 24 3rd ~ 15
1st ~ 18 4th ~ 19
2nd ~ 18 5th ~ 15
grade not specified ~ 10
1. Do you feel that you child has experienced success in the area of reading over the past year?
Yes ~ 101 No ~ 0 Somewhat ~ 1 No response ~ 2
Comments:
*I do think however that a little more homework should be given to prepare them for the future grades. (5)
*Her reading level has gone up and she enjoys Reading more. (5)
*Her reading level jumped up to 7.5. Mrs. Kienzle has been working with her in her comprehension. Both teachers have done a wonderful job working with (her). (5)
*She has been enjoying finding new books and finishing her AR points. (5)
*Both of my children have made great improvements in their reading levels. (3 & 4)
*Both are reading above grade level and have increased decoding and comprehension skills. (2 & 4)
*She loves to read.
*She started reading more. (4)
*Doing much better. (3)
*has continued to read a lot to be a strong reader. (3)
*She has found reading more enjoyable. (3)
*Gives them more one on one teacher time, and they get to read more in smaller groups.
*(He) has made so much progress this year. I am very impressed. (3)
*I believe she has. She seems to get better with her reading every year. (3)
*They enjoy diving into new books. (1 & 3)
*No problems reading at this level. (3)
*He is understanding reading a lot better. (2)
*He is a fantastic reader and comprehends it very well. (2)
*Gives them more one on one teacher time, and they get to read more in smaller groups.
*She does better with small groups. (2)
*He is always reading something. He even reads a book without my telling him to. (2)
*My son has developed a true love of reading. (2)
*(He) reads very well, we think, for only being a 1st grader. He sounds out his words. (1)
*She liked being in her group and got to check out great books. (1)
*She has improved by leaps and bounds. (1)
*He has made a lot of improvement and is more confident in reading. (1)
(1)
*He is reading great by himself. He reads his books out loud to me. (1)
*My child has made improvements toward understanding words. (1)
*My child is reading very well for a first-grader. She has exceeded my expectations of a first grader’s reading level.(1)
*I feel she is doing very good. (1)
*She is able to read a good wide range of words. (1)
*She can read a lot better to us; sometimes needs help. (1)
*I am impressed about how quickly she learned to read. (K)
*She has shown excitement over the fact that she can recognize words. (K)
*As a kindergartner, everything is brand new, and all reading is probably a success. I have been very impressed with how much they are learning. (K)
*She can read short books. (K)
*He can read more than before. (K)
*I think being in a reading group has helped her a lot.
*She has become a much more avid reader with better speech.
*went from no confidence in self to enjoying reading to herself and little sister; and from not knowing how to read to sounding words out & reading simple things. (K/3/5)
*His love of reading has increased! He now will read books just because he likes them. (5)
*She’s reading more difficult books and is more fluent in reading. The vocabulary words are also getting larger. (1)
*He enjoys reading more and has improved in his reading. (4)
*I love the small groups! They have helped my daughter a great deal. Thank you. (1)
*grades continue to improve. (4)
*Her reading skills have improved, and is reading above her grade level. (4)
*reads at home out loud to us; I can see an improvement. (4)
*He has started to pronounce words by sounding the word out. (K)
*She’s now reading books to me; writing words. (K)
*Mrs. Kraenzel and Mrs. Heitz are wonderful teachers. (K)
*He has improved a little bit, but he still needs help in reading. (K)
*He sounds them out really well until he gets it right, and he is reading well. (K)
*Small area of group reading. (K)
*He is able to read most books without help. (K)
*He was not reading much before the year; he has improved a lot.(K)
*They get a lot of good help and I am pleased with all of it. (K)
2. Do you feel your child has experienced success in the area of math over the past year?
Yes ~ 92 No ~ 4 Yes and No ~ 1 Somewhat ~ 2 Not sure ~ 3
Comments:
*She understands the concepts better and is a lot quicker in the thinking process. (3)
*She loves math and I like the new ways they have learned to solve problems.
(2)
*She has always been good at math but she is always wanting to learn more.
*She can count to 100 and uses sources to add numbers. (K)
*He can do basic math easier. (K)
*I didn’t realize how much math they do in kindergarten now. My daughter seems to be catching on to Math quite well.
*My child has made improvements in understanding math. (1)
*She is doing well and also enjoys math. (1)
*She is doing well. (1)
*She is learning there are more than one way to add or subtract. (problems) (1)
*likes to do her math herself. (1)
*She has shown different ways to figure out math problems. (1)
*He is always wanting to know more about adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing. (1)
*He is doing well in math. (1)
*(He) is also very good in math. (1)
*He is moving at a pace that is comfortable to him. (4)
*I feel he is pretty good at math, although I have a hard time with it because I am used to lining, numbers up and adding them. (2)
*My child loves math. (2)
*He is understanding the value of money, adding, and subtracting in numerous ways. (2)
*He loves math, and enjoys counting, figuring out new way of math. (2)
*Math skills have improved. (1 & 3)
*I still don’t understand math, but I’m learning the NEW way. (1 & 2)
*I believe so. She has had ups and downs with math this year, but overall she is doing well. (3)
*How fast they learn is unbelievable. (3)
*My child loves math. (3)
*She works her problems out better and they make more sense to her. (3)
*She thinks math is fun. (K & 4)
*My fourth grader has a better understanding with regards to problem solving using a variety of strategies.
*Both children have struggled in the beginning, but I have seen improvement in both grades. (3 & 4)
*She has been comprehending the concepts very well. (5)
*She struggled but has had the extra help and patience of her teacher. (2 & 5)
*to some degree. I think that the curriculum is cumbersome and the teachers have to work around it. (5)
*Her teacher Mrs. Schneider really explains herself and takes her time. She really enjoys math. (5)
*but I really think some type of book would be nice because it’s hard to help your child correct the mistakes they make without some type of manual. I do understand the new math concepts because I talked with Mrs. Kathrein, but some type of guidance would be nice. (5)
*He enjoys math – even the NEW math. (5)
*She is learning how to problem solve and getting ready for multiplication. (1)
(3)
*What the teachers are doing has made my daughter love math!! (1)
*He is awesome. (4)
*grades continue to improve (4)
*Math skills have improved; as I watch my child do math problems, she gets it done with no problem and is correct. (4)
*definitely
*He has always liked numbers but this year he has learned to use them in new ways. (K)
*but would like to see more math. (K)
*She’s learning how to add. (K)
*He does really well in math. Right now this is his best subject. (K)
*He has learned too much to write it all. (K)
*is able to add simple things together. (K)
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
*She rarely seemed to understand how to figure the problems out.
*I would like a program to be set up to help children who struggle with math. Much like what there is for reading. (2)
*She wasn’t challenged enough. She did well, but just needed a little more challenge. (1)
*The way math is taught is difficult and completely different then the way we were taught. I can no longer help my children with their homework because I don’t understand their way and they don’t understand my way. Makes this very difficult and makes me angry.
’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
*I can’t say I have noticed much in that area. (K)
*always been pretty good in math. (2)
*She has a hard time in math.
*new to school this year, it has been a struggle but she’s keeping up. (3)
*Math is a hard subject to understand with the way it is being taught these days. (K/3/5)
*(He) has always been good with math so hard for me to answer. (K)
3. If your child was in grades K – 4 this past year, do you feel the flexible grouping in reading benefited your child?
Yes ~ 77 No ~ 1 Yes and No ~ 2 Not Sure ~ 4 NA/no response ~ 20
Comments:
*She’s reading with the same level students as herself. She’s not being left behind nor is she being delayed. (1)
*He is continuing to progress.
*Always a good idea to learn with others at the same level as yourself. (K)
*seems to be reading and understanding better. (2)
*The smaller reading groups have been good. She gets more help.
(4)
*She seems to enjoy the group time – always saying that they have fun and learn a lot. A positive attitude is the key to learning, so this seems to be working! (K)
*He looks forward to teaming. (K)
*She can read at her level. (3 & 5)
*She does better with small groups. (2)
*Yes, she really enjoyed it. (K)
*I would say yes, due to the fact she is excelling, but as our only child who has just started school we do not have anything to compare her against. (1)
*They get more of a one on one and spend more time with them. (1)
*If it allowed the teacher to instruct at a more personalized level. (1)
*give them a change. (1)
*He has learned to read quite quickly. (1)
*It allows him to read higher level books. (2)
*He got more comfortable with reading. (2)
*They are able to go at a more even speed and the students are pretty equaled out. (2)
*She didn’t do much group reading last year, but this year seems better for her. (3)
*Smaller groups seem to work better. (1 & 2)
*The kids could work with each other if they had problems. (3 & 4)
*Flexible grouping aided them to achieve at their highest potential. (2 & 4)
*They both like to read. (K & 4)
*because he was working at a faster pace than others. (4)
*I love the small groups! They have helped my daughter a great deal. Thank you.
*It has shown me that she can include others in a group. (4)
*can help children in areas where they need help. (K)
*I liked how he learned at his level.(K)
*He has learned a lot this year. (K)
*She was in the same level of reading as the group was. She wasn’t delayed or left behind. (K)
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
*I have not seen a huge improvement. (3)
*more individual reading aids would be more beneficial I think. (K)
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
*(He) struggles reading to others but has been working on it. (3)
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
*I am not sure. She is a better reader though.
4. If your child was in grade 4 or 5 this past year, do you feel the flexible grouping in math benefited your child?
Yes ~ 38 No ~ 2 Not sure ~ 1 NA/no response ~ 63
Comments:
*same as reading; they got to work together. (3 & 4)
*My child is able to perform at her highest potential. (2 & 4)
(5)
*helped her in math in classroom. (K & 4)
*They could move along at their own speed. (3 & 5)
*because I have seen first hand how much grouping they do in sixth grade. (5)
*If it allowed the teacher to instruct at a more personalized level. (1)
*Sometimes her helping others or vice versa, help her understand better. (5)
*but again, a little more homework (5)
*They get more of a one on one, and also more time spent with them. (5)
*I think his understanding of math increased as well as challenged him to challenge himself. (5)
*She gets her work done in a fast but accurate time. (4)
‘’’’’’’’’’’’
*This is ‘if-y’; sometimes it seems to have been understood and others not at all. (K/3/5)
5. Do you as parents have any suggestions for Heart River staff that would assist your child in the areas of reading and/or math?
Comments:
*I think having a parent meeting every two months in math would help the parents not lose touch of the current skill. (5)
*repetition, repetition, repetition, because it works. (1)
*Being away from elementary schooling for 6 years and now back into it, I’m so impressed with Heart River and the staff. The way everything is handled by Miss Libis and the amazing teachers, secretary, and playground supervisors, the children are cared for and taught very well. (5)
* I think the staff is doing a very good job at teaching children good math and reading skills. (4)
*just to make sure the students understand it, before moving on to something new. (5)
*The staff at Heart River care about families and it shows everyday when we as parents and our children walk into our building. Thanks for the welcoming atmosphere~(5)
*Have tutor sessions after school. (2 & 5)
*I felt the knowledge presented during literacy nights was wonderful! Keep the information coming! (2 & 4)
*I think the teachers are doing a great job with the students!! Keep up the great work.
(3 & 4)
*We feel flexible grouping is benefiting our student. (1)
*Keep up the good work!! (3)
*Having more individual tutoring may benefit children. (3)
*Just keep encouraging their level and making reading fun. (1 & 3)
*I would like a program to be set up to help children who struggle with math. Much like what there is for reading. (2)
*I am very pleased with Heart River. (1)
*just to always make sure all or most students understand something before moving on. (2)
(6)
*just to take your time and make sure they understand it before moving on to something else. (1)
*Great job. (1)
*We have been very pleased!! (1)
*maybe using coins (money) for learning math skills. (K)
*From what we can tell, the teaching methods for the Kindergarten classes are working well. Not sure how anything should or could be changed. (K)
*Keep up the excellent supportive work towards the students. (2)
*I think you are doing a wonderful job. (4)
*It’s been a great year! Thanks! (1)
*The staff is doing an excellent job. (4)
*Go back to the other way of teaching math.
*I liked how it is done. (K)
*They are doing a good job the way it is right now. (K)
*having in-room special tutors may benefit also. (K)
*I feel flexible grouping is working well for all students. (K)
*more individual attention ‘if possible’. She does quite well but that bit of extra attention or persuasion spurs her on. (K)
6. Large school districts in North Dakota are required to set aside 1% of their Title I allocation for parent involvement activities. Dickinson Public Schools meets this requirement through building level activities (i. e. Parent Nights, Literacy Nights) and also by providing funding to the West Dakota Parent and Family Resource Center, to provide information and training sessions.
Are you in agreement with how the district is using these funds?
Yes ~ 94 No ~ 5 Unsure ~ 1 No response ~ 4
Comments:
*Parent Ed. Classes are wonderful. To ensure success of our students, parents need to learn better parenting skills. Success at home ups the odds of success in school. (1)
*cannot answer – have no knowledge about above items other than parent night or report cards. (K)
*The Love and Logic classes are the best. (K)
7. Do you have Internet access in your home?
Yes ~ 87 No ~ 12 No response ~ 5
Comment:
*I would like to see access to all teachers through Internet.
(7)