Reading

A student’s reading skill affects academic areas across the curriculum. A school-wide reading development program is a primary curriculum focus at Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. To give each student every means of developing skill in reading, we are committed to these:

• Training each classroom teacher in effective strategies of reading instruction
• Assisting each teacher to maintain program standards with the help of four reading specialists
• Improving literacy skills of the blind through intensive work provided by three Braille specialists

Libraries

Both the blind and deaf departments have well-stocked libraries for students, teachers, and parents to check out materials and books.

Librarians in both the blind and deaf departments are resources for the staff and families at FSDB to encourage and assist with literacy. Students and their families may use the online library services to check out books and materials. For more information, contact David Snow at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or visit the Deaf Department Library ; or Kayce Ekberg at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or visit the Blind Department Library.

Curriculum and Course Descriptions

The Florida Department of Education maintains the list of Course Descriptions for courses taught at FSDB. The Department of Education also publishes the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.

Students use a wide variety of reading material in their classes:

• Blind Department Reading Materials
• Deaf Elementary Department Reading Materials
• Deaf Middle School Department Reading Materials
• Deaf High School and CET Departments Reading Materials

Assessment

All students participate in five state-mandated assessment periods. Benchmark progress monitoring is on grade level three times a year and ongoing progress monitoring is on instructional level twice a year. Reading comprehension, reading fluency, vocabulary, and writing are all also assessed.

In addition, depending on grade level or participation in FCAT, other assessments will be happening throughout the year.

• Elisha Zuaro at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) – Reading Specialist for the Blind Department
• Judy Williams at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) – Reading Specialist, Deaf Elementary and Special Needs Elementary
• Kathy Pyle at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) – Reading Specialist, Deaf Middle School and Special Needs Middle School
• Brenda Albury at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) – Reading Specialist, Deaf High School and Special Needs High School

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind is Florida's public boarding school for students who are sensory impaired. FSDB is fully accredited, and it is one of the programs of instruction available in the state of Florida to serve deaf, hard-of-hearing or blind students. Find out more

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