Shark dancing at Pennington’s Jeffco Summer of Early Literacy Program

Susan Linze leads her students in a shark dance.

Shark dance anyone? Teachers in Jeffco’s elementary schools get as much exercise as they would in a Zumba class, but without the jazzy music. At least that was my experience at Pennington Elementary School in Wheat Ridge, while visiting Jeffco Summer of Early Literacy (JSEL), a program of Jeffco Schools Foundation.

Third-grade teacher Susan Linze gave her students a mental break with the amazing Shark dance. I have to admit I am a novice at shark dancing, but these kids rocked. After expending that much energy they were ready to refocus.

JSEL’s is in its  third year of a five-year pilot program. It provides intensive literacy instruction to struggling readers at six low-income neighborhood schools. The program has shown to increase reading proficiency, get students to grade-level literacy benchmarks and prevent summer literacy loss.

This year’s JSEL theme has been oceans, aquatic animals, water experiences and activities.  Yet, each of the six elementary schools that participate has approached the core literacy blocks from unique perspectives and each one is providing extraordinary learning opportunities for their Jeffco students.

Alida Carri leads her students through a reading exercise.

Pennington selected a one-book project that the whole school is reading and writing about, listening to and engaged in. The selected book is “Island of the Blue Dolphins” by Scott O’Dell. It was interesting to see students discussing plot points, questioning characters motivations and anticipating the action. Way to go Pennington!