At Lindbergh Schools, our primary goal at the elementary level is to develop the foundational reading skills students need in order to become proficient and engaged readers. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about elementary literacy instruction.

How many minutes do students spend on literacy during a typical school day?

Students in grades K-5 typically spend between 120 and 150 minutes per day on English Language Arts instruction. 

What happens during elementary reading instruction?

Reading instruction includes:

• direct, explicit whole group instruction
• personalized, small group instruction
• Phonics
• Phonemic awareness
• Comprehension skills
• Spelling and vocabulary
• Fluency
• Assessment

What resources are used to support instruction of the board-approved curriculum?

The following resources are used to support instruction of the board-approved curriculum. (All teaching must incorporate grade level priority standards.)

• Benchmark Advance (reading, writing, and word study/phonics)
• Decodable small group texts (grades K-2)
• Knowledge-building small group texts (grades K-5)

What assessments do you use to measure student growth in reading?

Lindbergh Schools uses Fastbridge in grades K-3 and NWEA Map Growth in grades 3-5. Results from these assessments are shared with parents and guardians three times per year. Families are notified through the principal e-note when results are available in Infinite Campus.

If a student meets at-risk criteria on the assessment, additional tests will be administered to determine the student’s areas of need. Students may receive reading intervention support from a certified reading specialist as needed.

Does your school have a plan to support a schoolwide effort in literacy?

Our primary goal at the elementary level is to develop the foundational reading, language, and writing skills students need to become proficient and engaged readers.

The district has a systematic approach in place to make sure that all classroom teachers, reading specialists, literacy teaching assistants, teachers of multilingual students, instructional coaches and building administrators participate in explicit professional learning in literacy. All reading specialists, instructional coaches, and K-3 teachers will complete LETRS Volume 1 training by the end of the 24-25 school year.