Teacher Reflections about the ExCELL Program

The ExCELL program has been an excellent resource of educational strategies for me. The current research, best practice techniques and materials have been invaluable in helping to enhance my skills and classroom environment. I am always looking for new or different ways to enhance my instruction in the classroom. The ExCELL program gave me great strategies and techniques to do this. It helped me to fine tune the strategies I was already using to get the most out of my instructional time.

My students not only received enhanced instruction but all kinds of materials to help reinforce their learning at school and home. The ExCELL program made it possible for my children to have learning materials and books at home and school. The bag of books the children use as part of the Raising-A-Reader Program put lots of books in the hands of my students. This was something that was greatly needed and appreciated. Many of my students have never been so exposed to so much good literature on such a regular basis. These activities increased my student’s knowledge base, vocabulary, and love of reading and school.

The inclusion of the parents in the program was important to me because it showed ExCELL had the total child in mind. The parent meetings were full of information the parents could use all the time to help their child learn. They were also supplied with books and materials to complete the tasks. The ExCELL program was a tremendous educational resource to me and an outstanding program for my students.

Sheryl Miles
VPI preschool teacher

Professionally, I have benefited from ExCELL in many ways. I have rearranged my classroom to provide even more centers for learning. I have developed a true writing center and incorporated writing into all centers. I have seen growth and learning by retelling stories in the block area. I have been reminded of the importance of conversation and encourage my students to think and share ideas about their own life experiences as well as classroom experiences and imaginary scenarios.

The ExCELL grant has provided many materials for my classroom that facilitate learning and literacy. My students are using hands-on manipulatives that allow them to experience language. They are talking about the shapes of letters. They are talking about words as rhyming words (“because they sound the same at the end!”) and beginning sounds (“My name starts with A like the alligator puzzle.”) They are choosing the writing center as a free choice, and they are making shopping lists in the housekeeping area. They are able to listen to stories on tape and/or CD because ExCELL has provided a listening center.

Overall, the ExCELL grant has allowed me to grow as a teacher, and in so doing, is allowing my students the academic experiences they need through hands-on, research-based learning.

Karin Eldred
VPI preschool teacher