Lauderdale County strives to meet the needs of all students. Various teaching strategies and educational approaches are used to reach this goal. Basically grades K-4 are self-contained classrooms. Grade 5 is semi-departmentalized. Cooperative learning is encouraged in all classroom settings.

Certified physical education teachers provide a planned program of physical fitness for all students in grades K-8. Certified music teachers enhance the curriculum with music programs for each grade level. Students are allowed to begin band in Grade 6.

Bridges Learning Centers by Intellectual Development Systems have been implemented in all elementary schools serving students K-6. Bridges focuses on 3 areas:

• Learning preparation-accomplished through class exercise
• Learning enhancement-accomplished through class activity
• Learning remediation-accomplished in Bridges Learning Center

Bridges identifies limitations of student's ability to learn, either physical or intellectual, and addresses limitations. Activities help with academic performance, the mind's ability to focus, and overall student self-respect. The effectiveness of Bridges Learning Center is measured in terms of how quickly students can return to regular classroom with strengthened learning ability.

 Accelerated Reader is used in grades 3-12. Students are motivated to read more books at higher levels and from award winning literature list. Students are tested on comprehension of the book and earn points based reading difficulty of the book.

Accelerated Reader helps increase scores on performance-based and norm-referenced tests, develops critical thinking skills, and builds lifelong readers and learners.

 Four-Blocks framework was developed by teachers who believed that to be successful in teaching ALL children to read and write, we were going to have to do it ALL! Doing it all meant incorporating on a daily basis the different approaches to beginning reading. The Four-Blocks--Guided Reading, Self Selected Reading, Writing and Words--represent four different approaches to teaching children to read. Daily instruction in all Four-Blocks provides numerous and varied opportunities for all children to learn to read and write. Doing all Four-Blocks acknowledges that children do not all learn in the same way and provides substantial instruction to support whatever learning personality a child comes with.

The other big difference between children--their different literacy levels---is accomplished by using a variety of formats to make each block as multilevel as possible--providing additional support for children who struggle and additional challenges for children who catch on quickly.

Think Link Success in the classroom does not necessarily indicate performance on your state's high-stakes test. Our research-based Predictive Assessment Series matches diagnostic assessments to each state's high-stakes test. Teachers can see student results before they actually test. Think Link predicts proficiency with up to 90 percent mastery. Think Link assessments gives the teacher results with which she/he can then plan the curriculum and the pacing for their class. Think Link was developed with the cooperation of Vanderbilt University.

 Fast ForWord Language software is a series of computer-delivered exercises for students who are struggling with reading and need to develop the cognitive skills necessary for successful reading and learning. Studies have shown that these exercises can quickly move students toward grade level in the skills essential to learning to read, helping them achieve gains in as little as 4 - 12 weeks.

Fast ForWord Language software

• Improves memory by having the student hold a statement or question in working memory while retrieving picture-concept associations from long-term memory.
• Improves attention by developing the ability to focus on tasks and ignore distractions.
• Strengthens processing skills so that students can see images and distinguish sounds quickly enough to discriminate their difference.
• Develops sequencing skills through exercises that require the use of word order to comprehend sentences and help identify missing parts.

Read 180 was developed at Vanderbilt University. Read 180 combines research-based practices of reading instruction with the most effective use of technology. Read 180 provides instructional, modeled, and independent reading instruction, which combine to create a balanced intervention program. Comprehension and fluency are improved in this innovative approach which supports and motivates the struggling reader.

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