FERRIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - BUILDING LITERACY WITH FERRIS HEART

Ferris continues to be a welcoming community that promotes an inclusive and happy learning environment. Members of our school strive to create a caring and engaging learning environment for our students. At Ferris Elementary School we value and strive to build a sense of belonging and connectedness among all of the members of our community. Together with our dedicated staff and supportive parent community we are committed to success for all of our diverse learners.  

LITERACY

At Ferris Elementary, a strong emphasis is placed on developing students' literacy skills through a variety of targeted strategies and practices.  Teachers are utilizing formative assessments to gauge individual progress and guide their lesson planning. These assessments allow educators to identify specific areas where students need additional support, such as phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, or comprehension skills. By using this data, teachers can adjust their strategies in real-time, ensuring that each student receives personalized attention that aligns with their learning pace and style.

Additionally, Ferris Elementary employs a balanced literacy framework that integrates reading, writing, speaking, and listening in a cohesive manner. This approach encourages students to engage with texts in multiple ways, allowing them to deepen their understanding and broaden their communication skills. Strategies like shared reading, interactive read-alouds, and guided reading sessions are regularly incorporated to promote fluency and comprehension. In writing, the school utilizes a process-oriented approach, where students are guided through brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing. Teachers provide structured feedback throughout these stages, helping students refine their writing while fostering a growth mindset. This cycle of continuous improvement ensures that literacy skills are not only developed in isolation but are embedded within authentic, meaningful contexts.

Finally, Ferris Elementary places a strong emphasis on creating a literacy-rich environment both inside and outside of the classroom. Teachers  incorporate a wide range of texts, including both fiction and nonfiction, that reflect diverse cultures and perspectives. This helps foster an appreciation for literature while promoting critical thinking and discussion. The school also utilizes technology to support literacy development, incorporating educational tools and resources that enhance engagement and learning outcomes. For example, digital storytelling and online collaborative writing platforms allow students to express their ideas creatively while building digital literacy skills. These collective efforts at Ferris Elementary ensure that students are not only proficient readers and writers but also lifelong learners with a deep understanding of language and its many applications.

HEART

As a school, we continue to focus on fostering social responsibility, guided by our Ferris HEART matrix. Through the HEART approach, we aim to grow together as a compassionate and inclusive learning community, nurturing empathy, respect, and collaboration.

Through a collaborative approach with our Ferris Families, our dedicated staff provide leadership opportunities for our students, build global awareness and environmental responsibility, and promote the joy of learning.  

At Ferris school H.E.A.R.T. defines us: Helpful & Safe, Empathetic, Accountable, Respectful & Truly Kind.