Second reading curriculum added for kindergarten

Kindergartners in the Bethel Park School District will get to use a new reading curriculum, Reading Wonders by McGraw-Hill Education, next school year. But the current curriculum, Land of the Letter People, also will be used in combination with the new program.

The school board voted April 25 to buy Reading Wonders for kindergarten for $14,264.The district currently uses Reading Wonders in first through fourth grades, and it was tried as a pilot program for some kindergartners this school year.

Several parents spoke at the meeting, with some praising the Letter People and some favoring Reading Wonders. School board president Donna Cook said the board also received many emails about the curriculum.

“I did receive and read all emails regarding this vote,” Ms. Cook said. “I feel we are moving toward a compromise.”

Megan Dolman urged the board to keep the Letter People, saying her daughter, who is in kindergarten, “loves the Letter People” and often talks about them at home. The Letter People “connect her to learning,” she said.

Christy Klein praised the Reading Wonders program, saying it did a better job of helping her daughter learn.

“Wonders is helping them read. It’s helping them write,” parent Marci Yee said.

Suzanne Vighetti, a kindergarten teacher at Benjamin Franklin Elementary, piloted the Reading Wonders program in her classroom this year. She said although some believe the course is too rigorous, students are responding well to it.

“Having two tools is the best option right now,” board member Ron Werkmeister said.

The board also approved spending $185,350 to continue to use Reading Wonders in first and second grades. The board had voted previously for its continued use in third and fourth grades.

Also at the meeting, Jim Modrak, who is resigning this month as school police officer to work in the private sector, received a certificate of recognition from Allegheny County, presented by county Councilwoman Sue Means.

Officer Modrak worked as a Bethel Park police officer from 1987 to 2002, became the district’s first school resource officer in 2002, and then became the district’s first school police officer in 2012.