Photo Provided Bridgeport Elementary School kindergarten students and teachers showcase their progress with help from federal Title 1 programming. Parents were able to observe during a visit. In the first row are kindergarteners Chloe, from left, Wyatt, Ettamae, Benjamin, October, Laney, Spencer, Aurora and Vincent. Second row are kindergarten teacher Morgan Castilow, from left, Title 1 teacher Michelle Heilman, and kindergarten teachers Mikida Clegg, Caitlyn Miller and kindergarten tutor Rachelle Brinker.

BRIDGEPORT — Elementary and middle school students at Bridgeport Exempted Village School District are getting some extra attention and excelling, with support offered through the Title 1 federal program.

Parents of kindergarteners saw firsthand how the program was lending a helping hand to their children during a Title 1 parents’ visit April 24. As part of the demonstration, the children got to show off their reading projects.

Tiarra Jarvis of St. Clairsville was impressed with the progress of her niece Aurora, who received Title 1 assistance since beginning kindergarten this school year.

“She’s been doing really good. From the start of the school year ’til now it’s been a big improvement,” Jarvis said. “She does really good at math, and she’s improved on her reading a lot.”

The kindergarteners learned to tell a sequential narrative with multiple sheets of paper, and some kindergarteners wrote their “books” entirely on iPads.

Like the other students, Aurora wrote and illustrated a book describing herself and her home. She particularly enjoyed writing about the chickens her family raised.

“She loves reading now,” Jarvis said.

Aurora said she also enjoys math.

Technology Coordinator Lisa Clark spoke afterward about the importance of maintaining communications with parents, adding the district invites parents of elementary and middle schoolers to about six such events yearly.

“We give them tips on what they can do at home to help them with their reading skills. It really gives a chance for the kids to be highlighted in their efforts as they’re learning to read better and become good writers,” Clark said.

She said the district has six Title 1 teachers.

Maria Kayafas, Title 1 parent coordinator, welcomed parents and families.

“It’s very nice because it does give the parents a chance to come in and get exposed to what’s happening here,” she said, adding students in kindergarten through eighth grade receive help from Title 1 at various times.

“It’s about highlighting what they’re learning in the classroom. They start out not knowing any words when they get started in kindergarten,” Kayafas said. “By the end of kindergarten, they’re writing sentences.”

Kayafas said the program is able to help students as needed for as much or as little as called for.

“We are a school-wide program, so anybody can be serviced for Title 1,” she said. “If they’re having trouble with just one math concept, we can actually work with those students.”

She said lessons include phonics for reading along with writing tasks.

Clark said monitoring the students’ progress and improvement is a key part of the program.

“We’re constantly assessing them, taking them in and out of groups,” she said. “Just constantly rotating.”

She said Title 1 has proven effective.

“We always see improvement. We have great teachers,” she said. Clark said there is considerable cooperation as the teachers and Title 1 instructors work together to plan lessons.

The program has been active in Bridgeport for more than 30 years. Clark said the district is funded yearly based on the free and reduced lunch services.

She and Kayafas added they are looking into the possibility of new kindergarten through fifth grade reading curriculum and resources for next year to ensure they reach every child.

“It’s a team effort,” Clark said.

Kayafas agreed.

“Our program just keeps improving to service the kids as best we can,” Kayafas said.

Kayafas said the Title 1 instructors have also made progress with third and fourth graders who may have suffered some educational disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We catch them up,” she said.