Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary School is recognized as a Mississippi Science of Reading School for best practices in reading instruction.
The Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Elementary Education and Reading, Division of Literacy, in collaboration with Voyager Sopris, presented HWS with a Mississippi Science of Reading School banner to commemorate this level of achievement during a special presentation in the Art Garden on Tuesday. .
"Reading is more than fluency and comprehension," said Principal Julie Fancher as she accepted the award from MDE. "Reading is phoenomic awareness, background knowledge, verbal reasoning, language structure, and vocabulary knowledge."
The achievement highlights HWS's efforts to train teachers in the science of reading, implement best practices aligned to the science of reading, embody and celebrate a school culture that focuses on building skillful, strong readers in kindergarten through third grade.
HWS's emphasis on reading includes a 120 minute literacy block that focuses on all of the components of reading.
HWS is one of seven schools in the state to earn the distinction of Mississippi Science of Reading School.
