Voorheesville Elementary School has made writing skills a priority, and writing is an integral part of the total program of every classroom. From writing words and simple sentences at the primary level to letters, outlines, reports, and stories at the intermediate level, the process becomes increasingly complex. Writing involves thinking, planning, drafting, revising, and a final product. Within this process punctuation, grammar and spelling are also emphasized. Voorheesville Elementary reading program uses Invitations to Literacy by Houghton-Mifflin as a core element. The major strands presented to students include: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary building, fluency and comprehension.
To supplement the series, the teachers have a book room available where they can use sets of books at various levels to deliver small group instruction to meet individual needs. Additional trade books, newspapers, magazines, workbooks and computer software programs are also used and students work with computers both in the lab and in the classrooms. Library Media Center Program is to promote an understanding of the value of reading and the library and to teach the children the many resources available to them in the center. All students K-5 are scheduled for a weekly library class. During this class the librarian spends time developing library skills based on grade level subject curriculum and literature appreciation.
