At Flint Lake Elementary, the staff embraces the motto, “Working Together for Every Child, Every Day.” One of the many keys to Flint Lake’s success is in its strategic use of Title I funds for its School-wide Programming. As 1 of 4 Valparaiso Title I schools, Flint Lake transitioned to its current model in order to better serve all of its children.
School-wide Programming means that all students at Flint Lake can benefit from Title I dollars--not just a targeted population. Such programming ensures unencumbered access to effective, scientifically-based instructional strategies and challenging academic content. Most important is the quality of individuals on staff—teachers and paraprofessionals who care about the academic and social-emotional development of every student. When material is explored in the classroom, some students get it, some almost get it, and some do not get it at all and must be re-taught immediately.
To facilitate success for students of all achievement levels, Flint Lake has created a time-block each day for enrichment, remediation, and re-teaching. We are especially mindful of providing extended learning time for underachieving students and providing targeted interventions. Beyond the traditional school day, before school morning programs target student skills in literacy and mathematics.
At Flint Lake, students who struggle academically are not burdened by a sense of hopelessness; instead, they build genuine self-confidence through successful practice in the prescribed targeted interventions. It is powerful! The right supports and interventions can grow our children and assure them that they are capable of higher levels of learning. One integral part of intervention is the time Flint Lake teachers take to discuss and review classroom-based assessment data, progress monitoring data, instructional strategies and plan for each six to eight week period.
Classroom and Title I teachers discuss individual student performance and specific teaching strategies, thereby collaborating on a comprehensive plan for an individual student’s success.
In conclusion, the strength of Flint Lake programming is at the core of the following components: (1) students enjoy being at Flint Lake, (2) rigorous, research-based academic work is central to the programming, and (3) the adults continue to learn as much as the students. Every day you can walk around and see students excited, engaged, connected, and hopeful. At Flint Lake, the motto “Every Child, Every Day” means that we work to keep learning and improving to reach all our children.