Dakisha Perry

Putting It Together
Halifax County Schools
Is what should be happening for students at this developmental age happening
for the students in my district? As I reflect upon our Halifax County Schools
(HCS) Developmental Project findings, I think about the resources we have
available; however, our students are not yet proficient. Our focus is on literacy due
to our low proficiency rate: one of the elementary schools overall proficiency
score is 28% in Reading (see School Report Section). As a district, Daily 5, a
framework for literacy, has been implemented. The Daily 5 consists of five
tasks/rotations to promote reading independence: Read to self, Work on Words,
Work on Writing, Listen to Reading, and Read to Someone. Some schools use
StudyIsland, ReadingEggs, MobyMax, and Accelerated Reader programs, to name
a few, to provide independent learning, reinforce lessons, and provide
comprehension practice. Individual schools may have an instructional coach, daytime and afterschool tutor(s), technology: laptops, MacBooks, Ipads, Smart
Boards, Smart Tables and retired personal based on school funds. Is what should
be happening for students at this developmental age happening for the students in
my district?
As an Elementary Instructional Coach, I (sometimes) get the opportunity to
help build capacity of teachers and about 70% percent of teachers communicate to
me that students do not come to them ready or the curriculum is not

developmental appropriate for our students. According to Raising Children

Network, The first five years of life, a childs brain develops more and faster than
at any other time in his/her life. (Some) Students come to us at the tender age of 4
as a Pre-Kindergarten student; others enter at 5 as a Kindergarten student. Which
is where the role of the parent and teacher meet.
Parents are childrens first teachers; however, teachers begin to take an
important role in the childs life as they teach the child specific skills. By the time
we receive students, according to Erik Erikson, they are at the stage (ages 5 to 12
yrs.) where they will be learning to read and write, add, and do things on their own
(Industry vs. Inferiority). This makes me think of Piagets Theory that states that
one's childhood plays a vital and active role in a person's development. Students
come from various backgrounds and situations - every child is different, every
situation is different. Students enter school on different levels every year. Yes,
there will be questions like why are our students on different levels? Is that
because the students are not being taught? Is it that the students have not been
exposed? Is that the students are developmentally delayed? Is it that students
develop at different rates? But my question is what if there is no one answer?
A trend that I noticed in the classroom observations was that the all of the
students were exhibiting some of the indicators from each of the developmental
milestones but not all students exhibited all of the indicators. Again, the role of a
teacher is important in the childs life as they teach specific skills. Teachers have a

challenge, but it is possible. It is important to meet students where they are by

making sure we accelerate as well as remediate.
Is what should be happening for students at this developmental age
happening for the students in my district? According to data, no; however, it is my
hope, for the sake of our students and our future, that Halifax County Schools is
making improvements and genuine efforts to make sure that what should be
happening for students at this developmental age happens.