2007 Academy Star Students
In May 2007 we held nominations for our first ever Academy Star Student Awards. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations. We've enjoyed hearing about the successes of your students and to hear about their progress through the year. We awarded twenty-five Academy Star Student Awards to students from around the U.S. and Canada. Below are some of the nominations that were submitted for the 2007 Academy Star Student Awards.
Academy of READING and Academy of MATH
I would like to nominate a student for the Academy Star Award. He has already completed his required levels for this year (4-6) and only has 7th and 8th to completely finish. He has been working extremely hard on this. Keep in mind we got a late start and have limited access to the computer lab.
This student was at a discipline school last year. When he returned this year, he had a huge chip on his shoulder and thought he couldn't do anything. He would get mad and quit if something was too hard for him. As the year went by, his English teacher and I both started seeing huge improvements in both the Academy of READING and Academy of MATH. He would get upset if we weren't going to the lab because he wanted more certificates. After each certificate, he realized that he could do the work and his attitude began to change. He began to participate in class and would get frustrated if the other kids wouldn't listen.
Although he is in smaller classes, he received two awards third quarter for having the highest average in both English and math. I couldn't hold back my tears when he walked up to received them. He has never gotten awards like that before and he was so proud. When the third quarter interims came out, he had an A in all of his core classes (Math, English, Social Studies, and Science).
His improvements have been both in academic, behavior, and in attitude. You just can't imagine how much he has changed and I credit the Academy of READNG and Academy of MATH for giving him the confidence he was lacking all of these years. I don't just think, I KNOW he deserves this reward more than anyone.
Wendy Vogt
Moultrie Middle School
Charleston, SC
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Academy of READING
I have an eighth grade student named Aleisha Ziegenbein who began training on the Academy of READING in February 2007. Right after Christmas Aleisha's Grade Equivalent was 5.8 (according to the Academy of READING.) She was recently tested again and her GE is now 7.9! She IS my Academy Star. At first she was very frustrated with the program. I explained that she needed to be patient, pay attention to the guides on the computer and to do what the computer directed her to do, then in time her reading level would improve. Aleisha listened, followed directions, and improved! I am very proud of her accomplishment. Through Academy of READING, she was able to begin exactly where she needed to be in order to gain basic skills that she was lacking in her reading education. Thank you for providing such a wonderful learning tool for my students. By gaining better reading skills at the eighth grade level, my students will have a chance to be successful at the high school next year.
Lisa Fricke
Lexington Middle School
Lexington, Nebraska
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I am one of the Special Education Resource Teachers at the school and I take groups of students from the primary classes to work on Academy of READING three times a week. As soon as I saw your newsletter for nominating an Academy Star I knew exactly who to nominate. My Academy Star Student is a grade three student at Glen Dhu. Even though this is his first year working with the Academy of READING he seems like a pro. While the class average for percentage of the program completed it 34%, as of today he has completed 72% of the program, which is 47 of the 65 skills in the 2-3 Developmental Stream.
His student snapshot says it all. He is rarely in the locker or the trophy case; rather he is in the classroom training. He is a great example for the other grade 2's and 3's that come into the computer lab for the same Academy of READING sessions. He is usually the first to log on and doesn't stop until our lab time is up. I think his enthusiasm is contagious. Those students who sit next to him see him working hard and progressing through the program and they want to do the same. He is a great example of how perseverance is one of the keys to mastery!
Alison McIntosh
Primary SERT
Glen Dhu Public School
Whitby, Ontario
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Our nomination for Academy Star is a Grade 3 student at Ormiston Public School in Whitby, Ontario.
This is her second year using the Academy of READING. When she entered Grade 3, she was at a reading level 7, which is at a beginning Grade 1 level. She has progressed steadily through the exercises and is now at an amazing level 19, which is at a middle Grade 2 level; with 99% accuracy and 1:3 self-corrections. Her reading level has improved an incredible year and half in the past eight months!
This is a highly motivated student with a learning disability who has been identified as a student with exceptional needs. She is very determined to do well. She works well independently, with help when needed. She participates in whole group and small group activities. Her self-esteem and confidence have improved immensely during the past year. She has a very positive outlook, and now looks forward to coming to school every day.
She has worked very hard indeed at the Academy of READING and has quietly forged ahead of her peers. She is always eager to attend and deserves to be honored with an Academy Star Award. She is a shining example of how the Academy of READING combined with solid classroom instruction can have a positive impact upon a child’s academic success.
Karyn Sorichetti
Ormiston Public School
Whitby, Ontario
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I would like to nominate one of my grade three students as our school Academy Star. He has been using the program only since January of this year and has already earned 27 certificates! He is always eager to spend time on the computer using the program and has learned to self-pace expertly. He is totally independent, from log-in to log-out! Parents and teacher(s) have both commented on his increased speed in decoding!!
Mary Lynn Lanos
Special Education Resource Teacher
McCaskill's Mills Public School
Cannington, Ontario
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I would like to nominate a Star student from the Academy of READING program. [This student] has been working on the Academy for the last 2 years; he is a Grade 7 student who was reading at a Grade 1 level. He has just successfully completed the whole program and did amazing on his test. He went up three whole grade levels, but the most important thing is that his self confidence and attitude has taken a dramatic positive change. The principal and teachers have all been commenting on what a change this program has had on this student. He is now an excellent Academy role-model for the younger students and comes down to help them with their program. He is definitely a Academy Superstar in our eyes.
Andrea Larocque & Shawna Pitre
Academy Coordinators
Sir William Stephenson Public School
Whitby, ON
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Academy of MATH
The following nominations were submitted by Rhea Barnes from Sacajawea Elementary School in Great Falls, Montana
Class A1
This student is in second grade and started with Academy of MATH in November. Math was not one of her strengths. She has worked quietly every day and, during the year, has gotten very good with numbers. She has learned to think through problems and is starting to gain the confidence that she will need for her school career. In her classroom, she has also made tremendous improvement. We believe that her success in class is due to her persistence in math lab. Her hard work this year should earn her a Star.
Class A2
This student is in second grade and she is very motivated and has been doing Academy of MATH all year. She started as the lowest student in her class and has passed into level four on the program. She is so confident in her work and it has carried over into her classroom. She has shown up on time, every day with a positive attitude. For this class, she truly deserves to be recognized as an Academy Star.
Class B1
This student is in second grade and was at a very low level when he started Academy of MATH at the beginning of the year. There are many great students in the same class, but he stands out for several reasons. He has worked very consistently every day. He learns from the mistakes that he has made and keeps trying. First he struggled with the basics of number sense, then simple adding and subtracting. Now he has progressed into level three. He is doing the same work in his class as his classmates and has gotten to be one of the most confident students there. He is definitely a star.
Class B3
I would like to nominate this 3rd grade student who has been in special education classes since first grade. He started Academy of MATH at the beginning of this school year. During the first few months, he tested out of special education for math. He started in level one and has worked very hard every day. He has caught up to and passed his grade level. Currently he is working in level 4. His hard work is apparent in his classroom also. He is very persistent, confident and truly deserves to be an Academy Star.
Class B4
This student is in the 3rd grade and started the Academy of MATH this year with a huge lack of confidence and self esteem. She started in level one and had many struggles alone the way. Now, she has completed her training and has moved into level four. She has gained the confidence in herself that she did not have before. Her math skills have carried over into the classroom. She comes to class with a smile and knows that she can do the work on her own. She is the star of this class.
Class B5
I would like to nominate this fourth grade student for the Academy Star. In the beginning, he would get very frustrated because he was unable to do the problems presented to him. Now, he has moved from level two, completed his training and is working in level five. He has had great success with the program. Because he has gained so many of the skills that he was missing, he has made huge gains in his classroom. In addition to math skills, he has gained a sense of confidence, is more self sufficient, and seems much more positive.
Class B6
This student came to Sacajawa Elementary in the middle of the year. She was missing many skills that are necessary to succeed as a 4th grader. Since starting Academy of MATH, she has progressed from level two into the middle of level four. She is doing great in her classroom and has gained most of those missed skills.
Class C1
I would like to nominate this fifth grade student who started the year with second grade math skills. During the course of the year, he has progressed through levels two, three, four, and into five. He has learned many skills and has kept working on a steady basis. He works hard in his classroom and in the math lab. Because of his hard work all year, I feel that he deserves to be an Academy Star.
Class C2
This is a 5th grader being nominated for Academy Star. He has been slowly gaining the skills needed to be successful in math. His positive attitude, hard work and consistency have helped him gain some of the skills he has missed. He works on a skill and by the time he is finished, he truly understands how to accomplish the task. It has been a great pleasure to work with him this year. His attitude toward math and school in general, as well as his motivation should help him earn a Star.
Class C3
I would like to nominate this 6th grade student who came to Academy of MATH to help gain some missed skills. He started in level two and has progressed to the middle of level four. While he is still not up to grade level, he has made tremendous progress. He is now confident enough to do his work in the classroom. He has learned many skills this year. Because of his hard work and dedication, I feel that he will take the confidence he has gained with him into middle school. He should be an Academy Star.
Class C4
This student is in sixth grade and started with Academy of MATH in January. She got a late start but has been working hard to gain all the skills possible. She comes before school four days each week. She has gained confidence in her ability to do math and this has carried this over into her classroom. In addition to doing her own work, she has tried to help other students in the math lab. She is a good worker, with a positive attitude.
Class C5
I would like to nominate this 5th grade student who started on level one. Before he started using Academy of MATH he did not understand how to regroup numbers for adding or subtracting. He was at a first grade level. This year, he has chosen to spend every minute of his free time to work on the program. He has learned how to add, subtract and how to “think math” on his own. Now he doesn’t have to just ask for help, he jumps in and tries to do the work on his own. His confidence has grown greatly. He is a joy to work with and he deserves to be a Star.
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