St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic School (SARCS)

Title: SARCS Whole-School Sight Word Campaign

1.  Introduction

Purpose:

Recent diagnostic assessments have shown that most of the students at SARCS are reading significantly below their expected levels. To address this, we are launching a Whole-School Sight Word Campaign to help students master 300 essential sight words over the school year. By learning these high-frequency words, students will improve their reading fluency, comprehension, and overall academic performance.

Objective:

Over the course of 30 weeks, students will learn 300 sight words—10 sight words per week—across all subjects. The campaign will be a collaborative effort involving teachers, parents, and community volunteers to ensure that each student is consistently engaged in literacy improvement activities.

2.  Program Goals

• Improve reading fluency and comprehension by teaching students to recognize 300 high-frequency sight words.

• Foster collaboration among teachers, parents, and community volunteers to provide comprehensive support for students.

• Integrate sight word learning across all subjects—Math, Science, Language Arts, and Religion.

• Provide individualized support for students struggling with sight word mastery, as identified by teachers.

3.  Target Audience

• All SARCS students from Infant 1 to Standard 6 will participate in the campaign, with targeted interventions for students who need additional support.

• Teachers will incorporate sight word instruction into their daily lessons across all subjects.

• Parents will support sight word practice at home.

• Community volunteers will provide after-school tutoring and individualized support.

4.  Campaign Structure

A.  Sight Word Learning and Instruction

• Weekly Focus: Each week, students will learn 10 new sight words. The campaign will span 30 weeks, allowing students to master 300 words by the end of the school year.

• Integrated Approach: Sight words will be reinforced in all subject areas to ensure students are encountering and using these words in multiple contexts:

  • Math: Incorporate sight words in word problems and instructions.

  • Science: Use sight words in scientific explanations and reading passages.

  • Language Arts: Focus on sight words during reading and writing activities.

  • Religion: Include sight words in prayers, religious readings, and discussions.

• Tracking Progress: Each student will have a Sight Word Progress Chart to track mastery of the 300 words. Teachers will assess weekly through informal assessments (e.g., quizzes, reading aloud, etc.).

B.  Teacher Roles and Responsibilities

• Classroom Implementation: Teachers will dedicate time each day for sight word instruction. This can include:

  • Morning Warm-Up: Quick review of the weekly sight words.

  • Classroom Games: Use fun activities like bingo or flashcards to reinforce learning.

  • Sight Word Wall: Display the weekly sight words prominently in each classroom.

• Peer Support:

        The SARC Literacy Program Peer Lead will:

• • Check in with all teachers to ensure they are on track with the weekly sight words.

  • Assist teachers with maximizing the use of the A to Z Reading Platform.

  • Organize the printing of handouts and resources for teachers.

  • Provide ongoing feedback and report progress to the SARC Community Literacy Program Coordinator.

C.  Parent and Home Support

• Daily Practice: Parents will receive a list of the weekly sight words along with tips on how to practice them at home. Activities could include:

  • Reviewing the words for 10–15 minutes daily.

  • Playing sight word games (e.g., flashcards, matching games, sight word scavenger hunts).

  • Encouraging students to identify sight words in books, signs, and conversations.

• Sight Word Challenges: Parents and students can participate in home-based challenges, with small rewards for students who achieve sight word milestones.

D.  Community Support

      The SARC Community Literacy Working Group will collaborate with local partners to provide individualized after-school tutoring:

• Tuba Bouda Tutoring and Homework Hub: Dr. Enita Barrett and volunteers will provide tutoring and homework assistance, focusing on reinforcing sight words.

• Seine Bight Library: Librarian Lynn Upman will offer literacy activities that align with the campaign.

• Seine Bight Police Sub-formation Cadet Core: Led by Cpl. Aretha Gordon, cadets will mentor students and provide structured after-school literacy support.

• GARIU Parent Volunteers: Kimberly Sanchez and Eleanor Reyes will offer one-on-one tutoring, focusing on students’ specific literacy needs as identified by their teachers.

Community volunteers will work directly with class teachers to align their efforts with classroom instruction, ensuring consistent learning experiences.

5.  Resources and Materials

• Sight Word Lists: Weekly sight word lists will be distributed to students and teachers.

• A to Z Reading Platform: Teachers will utilize this platform for interactive sight word practice and tracking progress.

• Printed Materials: The Peer Lead will oversee the distribution of handouts, including sight word practice sheets and progress charts.

• Interactive Learning Tools: Flashcards, sight word games, and digital resources to enhance learning.

6.  Evaluation and Monitoring

Progress Monitoring

Weekly Assessments: Teachers will use quick assessments to monitor how well students are mastering the weekly sight words.

Progress Charts: Each student will have a chart to track the words they’ve mastered. Teachers will review these charts weekly.

Teacher Accountability

The SARC Literacy Program Peer Lead will ensure teachers remain on track and provide feedback on classroom implementation. This teacher will also gather data from weekly assessments and report to the SARC Community Literacy Program Coordinator.

Community Involvement

Community volunteers will keep records of students’ progress during after-school sessions and report back to class teachers, ensuring that struggling students receive the additional support they need.

Timeline

Week 1–30: Sight Word Campaign begins. Each week, students will focus on learning 10 new sight words.

End of Term Assessment: A comprehensive sight word test will be given at the end of the term to evaluate overall progress.

Conclusion

The SARCS Whole-School Sight Word Campaign is a collaborative effort involving teachers, parents, community volunteers, and students. By working together, we aim to significantly improve students’ reading fluency and overall literacy skills, ensuring that they are prepared for academic success.