West Islip Union Free School District hosted a literacy forum for parents on Oct. 9 in the West Islip High School auditorium on the “Science of Reading.” The forum was facilitated by Dawn Morrison, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, Dana Musso, director of foundational literacy and MTSS, Paul J. Bellew Elementary School Principal Rhonda Pratt and members of the English department at the elementary and secondary levels.

The panel discussed the foundations of literacy including language comprehension, word recognition and reading and how the district approaches its instruction. Universal screening, which is conducted three times per year for grades K-8 for all students in the district, helps to identify those who may need additional support. West Islip provides whole class, small group and individualized instruction across its three tiers of support to address the needs of all readers.

West Islip educators also spoke about how parents can continue to support foundational literacy at home and some of the tools and strategies they can utilize. Parents had the opportunity to ask specific questions at the conclusion of the forum.

Date Added: 10/22/2024