Title 1 Program
Dear Nicely Families:
Hello! My name is Mrs. Kristy Hostetler and I am the Reading Specialist at Nicely Elementary. This is my 12th year working at Nicely, and my 24th year of teaching.
I work very closely with the ELA teachers in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade during Reading Intervention. During intervention time, I provide individual and small group instruction and support in Reading. I am very passionate about instilling a love of reading in all children!
Contact information:
kristy.hostetler@gslions.net
Resources for Families
- Right to Know Letter
- Parent and Family Engagement
- PA Core Standards
- Assessment and Progress Monitoring
- Resources
- Reading SOS
- Newsletters
Right to Know Letter
Dear Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s):
As a parent of a student attending a school that is receiving Federal Title I dollars, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the teacher(s) and instructional paraprofessional(s) who instruct your child. Federal law requires every Title I school district to comply and to provide you with the requested information in a timely manner. We are happy to provide this information to you.
At any time, you may ask:
- Whether the teacher met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching
- Whether the teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived
- What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration.
You may also ask whether your child receives help from a paraprofessional. If your child receives this assistance, we can provide you with information about the paraprofessional’s qualifications. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which was signed into law in December 2015 and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1956 (ESEA) includes additional right to know requests. At any time, parents and family members can request:
- Information on policies regarding student participation in assessments
- Information on required assessments that include:
- subject matter tested
- purpose of the test
- source of the requirement (if applicable)
- amount of time it takes students to complete the test
- time and format of disseminating results.
Our staff is committed to helping your child develop the academic knowledge and critical thinking he/she needs to succeed in school and beyond. That commitment includes making sure that all of our teachers and paraprofessionals meet applicable Pennsylvania state requirements.
If you have any questions about your child’s assignment to a teacher or paraprofessional, please contact the school principal:
- Amos K. Hutchinson: Kevin Bringe, 724-832-2885 or kevin.bringe@gslions.net
- Robert F. Nicely: Mr. Christopher Thomas, 724-832-2865 or Christopher.thomas@gslions.net
- James H. Metzgar: Tina Federico, 724-668-2237 or tina.federico@gslions.net
We look forward to the upcoming school year, and together we will make a difference in your child’s life.
Sincerely,
Lenni D. Nedley, Ed.D.
Coordinator of Federal Programs
Resource
Parent and Family Engagement
How can you be involved in your child's education?
There are many ways to be involved at Nicely! One way is to join the PTO.
You can join by visiting their website at www.nicelypto.com
Another way is by completing our 2024 Back to School Survey and volunteering to be a part of our Parent Advisory Council.
The Role of the Parental Involvement Advisory Council:
• Attend the Advisory Council Meetings
• Help review the Parental Involvement Policy & Home/School Compact
• Act as an advocate for the Parent Involvement Program
PA Core Standards
Pennsylvania’s Core Standards offer a set of rigorous, high-quality academic expectations in English Language Arts and Mathematics that all students should master by the end of each grade level. The PA Core Standards are robust and relevant to the real world and reflect the knowledge and skills our young people need to succeed in life after high school, in both post-secondary education and a globally competitive workforce (Standards Aligned Systems). The Greensburg Salem School District has incorporated the PA Core Standards and practices into our curriculum.
Assessment and Progress Monitoring
MAP Growth for Reading & Math
MAP Growth is a computerized adaptive test. Kindergarten takes the assessments two times during the year: once in the middle of the year and again at the end of the school year. First through Fifth Grades takes the assessment three times during the year: beginning, middle, and end of year. The purpose of MAP Growth is to determine what students know and are ready to learn next. MAP Growth is designed to measure student achievement in the moment and growth over time. Teachers use the scores to inform instruction and personalize learning. Please visit the NWEA Family Toolkit for parent resources.
MAP Reading Fluency
MAP Reading Fluency is a computerized adaptive test. Kindergarten through Third Grade takes this assessment three times per year: beginning, middle, and end of year. The purpose of this test is to measure oral reading fluency, foundational reading skills, and literal comprehension.
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System (BAS)
The BAS test is used to determine student's independent and instructional reading levels, allows teacher to observe student reading behaviors one-on-one, engage students in comprehension conversations that go beyond retelling, and helps teachers make informed decisions for responsive teaching.
The purpose of the BAS test is to enable teachers to:
◦ Determine students’ instructional and independent reading levels
◦ Recommend a placement level for instruction
◦ Form initial groups for reading instruction
◦ Plan for efficient and effective instruction
◦ Identify students who need intervention and extra help
◦ Monitor and report student progress across a school year and grade levels
◦ Assess the outcomes of teaching
Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Assessment
This assessment is given to all Kindergarten students three times a year. The purpose of this assessment is to monitor student progress with phonological and phonemic awareness skills and the results are used to plan for instruction.
Resources
During Reading Intervention time, your child may participate in one of the following interventions. Please click the links to learn more about each one.
FUNdations
Just Words
Wilson Reading
Leveled Literacy Intervention
It is important that your child spends at least 20-30 minutes each day reading! However, I know it can be difficult to keep enough books available at home and sifting through online resources can become difficult. If you are looking for quality resources, I have good news! The district has purchased a subscription to Pennsylvania’s Electronic Library so you can get free access to thousands of books at home or anywhere you have the internet!
Visit: https://kids.powerlibrary.org/
Click on “Book Flix” and follow the directions to get your FREE Library E-Card Number!
Once you get logged into the Power Library you can use Scholastic's Learn At Home website to access daily activities by grade level:
https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html?caching
Time for Kids is offering a free digital library to all children in grades K-6!
Check it out here: https://www.timeforkids.com/
Check out these Tips for Supporting Reading Skills at Home!
Reading SOS
Featured question
Should I correct my child when she reads aloud to me?
It depends on the situation, says Sandra. If your child is reading out loud for fun, it’s best to just offer a gentle, quick correction and move on. But if your child is reading aloud as part of a more structured learning time, you should offer more guidance, such as encouraging your child to slow down and sound out unfamiliar words, and to check for understanding (e.g., does that sentence make sense?).