L-EISD aims to keep students on course
Students at Liberty-Eylau Middle School have a new, high-tech way to ensure they stay on target with their education. This year, Liberty-Eylau Middle School implemented the REACH (Recover, Excelling, Academic, Core, Hours) Lab in an attempt to help students in credit recovery or tutoring to ensure they remain on grade level.
“As we looked at our student needs, it was apparent that we needed a better intervention tool to reach them before they were at risk of not staying on level,” Middle School Principal William Houff said. “That is where the impetus for the REACH Lab came from.”
In the REACH Lab, students use Google Chromebooks and Compass Learning Online Curriculum to supplement needed areas of improvement. Each student has an individualized learning program to meet specific needs.
Houff said the program can benefit students who fall behind for academic reasons or reasons beyond their control such as illness, or family issues.
“There are a variety of reasons why students may fall behind, and this program allows them to stay on track instead of being retained and having to repeat a grade level,” he said.
The lab is also used to provide extra practice for students who need tutoring in specific areas during the school day.
“We can tutor kids during school instead of them having to stay after or come to summer school,” Houff said. “That is a huge benefit, because they get the extra help they need during the school day without inconveniencing their families.”
Houff said that over 350 students have completed tutorial activities in the REACH Lab this year, representing over 215,000 minutes of instruction.
Compass Learning software has a variety of lesson formats built in. Many have interactive videos using both live and animated lessons. There are myriad tools in the software to keep the students engaged throughout the lesson.
REACH Lab Instructor Jakeb Goff said that the customizable aspects of the software make it an invaluable tool.
“We can build lessons for a student based on areas we already know they need,” he said. “Or we can allow the software to build an individualized plan based on assessment results in the program. The modules are very engaging so that students are less likely to become distracted or work too quickly through a module”
Houff said that so far six students are in the recovery program and three of those who were behind have advanced at least one grade level to get back on track. The others are working on current year coursework and should be on level by the time they leave the middle school.
“Every student who comes to LEMS deserves a chance to succeed,” Houff said. “We know that if they fall behind they are much more likely to become discouraged, and more likely to drop out. We want to make sure that we do everything we can to keep that from happening and the REACH Lab gives another tool to meet that goal.”