By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Clanton Intermediate School has been named one of 50 schools in Alabama to receive $20,000 based on substantial improvements in last year’s third grade reading scores.

According to a news release from the Alabama State Department of Education, the department divided $1 million evenly between the 50 schools “as a way of recognizing and incentivizing teachers and students who have worked hard to achieve proficiency in reading by the third grade in last year’s Scantron Performance Series Reading Assessment.”

Third-grade teacher Jill Moatts said all of the third-grade teachers “work well together and share ideas that have worked in our individual classrooms with each other.”

“Every teacher at CIS is dedicated to providing what each child needs to make them successful,” Moatts said. “Teachers are constantly meeting and reviewing data to work together to ensure all children are getting what they need to become better readers. Programs such as Accelerated Reader help give students the opportunity to read and test for comprehension.”

Clanton Intermediate School was the only school in Chilton County selected to receive these funds.

Just how the $20,000 will be used is still being decided. A committee of last school year’s third-grade teachers has been formed to discuss possibilities.

“We incorporate different learning strategies, methods of instruction, and we use a variety of resources to implement reading skills,” third-grade teacher Dornesia Davidson said. “Students work on fluency daily, as well as, comprehension strategies.  In an effort to help students reach their full potential, we use formative and summative data.  We have monthly grade level data meetings to discuss and plan how to improve student achievement.  Our students worked hard, and we are very proud of them.”

Moatts said possibilities could include purchasing more technology.

Online programs Edmentum, Read Theory and Kahoot have been used in the past to help students further develop reading skills.

“These programs provide data to review and assess student’s needs,” Moatts said.

A local recognition event is planned for Aug. 31. The Alabama State Department of Education will recognize the schools during an awards ceremony after the state Board of Education meeting on Sept. 13.