Welcome  

Welcome to Iris Becker Elementary School.The Foreign Language Theme School.
We have close to 300 students from kindergarten through fifth grade.
Becker is a beautiful building in the midst of a diverse and peaceful neighborhood.
We have many points of pride and exciting programs that promote academics and
citizenship skills, with a focus on the Core Democratic Values. Becker staff is distinct.
Our teachers are highly qualified, most having additional endorsements and specialties.
Each teacher has done an outstanding job raising student achievement and morale and
we are proud of our school and community. 
We welcome visitors to come and see what Becker is all about.

Sincerely,

Nada Fouani, Principal

Overview

Becker has made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as identified by the No Child Left
Behind Act (NCLB) and Education Yes!. More than 95% of students in grades 2-5 took
the state MEAP test and posted some of the highest scores in the district. In addition,
Becker is fully accredited by North Central Accreditation. We are implementing our
NCA School Improvement Plan and gathering supportive data that aligns with the
goals chosen.  We are in our final year of implementation of NCA and a Peer Review
Team will visit Becker in 2007.  We received a grade of “A“ on the State of Michigan
Report Card. For more information, please visit www.dearbornschools.org.

Curriculum

The curriculum at Becker is aligned to the Michigan Curriculum Framework (MCF)
in the four core academic areas: Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies.
Course standards and benchmarks are also cross-referenced to the MCF. 
Significant progress has been made toward aligning other content areas (fine arts,
technology, world languages, health education, and physical education) to the MCF.
Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), local, and classroom testing is
done on a scheduled basis.  Classroom testing is linked to the four core academic areas and
common tests are given across grade levels.

The staff is actively involved in ongoing collaboration, professional goal setting,
weekly grade-level meetings, lesson/unit plans and teacher evaluation as methods of
assessing curriculum and improving student learning. Classroom visits, pre- and post-testing
in math, analysis of MEAP results, and end-of-unit testing are some of the methods used
to determine if curriculum is being taught as written. Staff members are dedicated to
maintaining an environment that promotes continuous learning and student improvement.
This is accomplished by involving stakeholders in problem-solving and decision-making,
setting yearly goals for school improvement, allocating resources to support these goals,
sharing leadership of programs, and meaningful professional learning that engages all staff.

Continuous Improvement

In 2005-06, Becker focused on ELA (Reading and Writing). Based on our MEAP scores,
Terra Nova scores and student data, we decided to zero in on specific goals, strategies,
and action plans in ELA across the grade levels. Becker continues to focus on ELA while
upgrading and updating materials and instruction in math and science as  described by our
NCA goals and school improvement plan. Several new and innovative instructional
programs, such as Everyday Math, Reading First, Macmillan McGraw-Hill Science program,
Arabic literacy, and all-day kindergarten have been implemented in the last three years.  

Instructional Staff Qualification

The instructional and paraprofessional staff at Becker are qualified as outlined in the No
Child Left Behind law for the areas in which they teach/work as evidenced by certificates,
degrees, competency test results, and endorsements. All teachers met the Highly Qualified
Teacher requirements and have certificates on file with additional endorsements in  specific
teaching areas. Paraprofessionals are in compliance with district requirements and a majority
are working toward a degree or teaching certificate. Our school has a comprehensive plan
for quality Professional Development (PD) as evidenced by a data-driven and content-centered
plan that supports the school improvement plan, use of research-based instructional practices,
integration of technology into instruction, and alignment with the National Staff Development
Council for Professional Development Standards.  Non-tenured teachers use an Individual
Development Plan to ensure success.

The school supports and sustains PD as evidenced by new teacher orientation, Literacy Coach,
Resource Teacher,  mentoring programs, individual development plans for new teachers, peer
collaboration, classroom observations, Instructional Dialogues, workshops and conferences,
teacher evaluation, and weekly and cross grade-level meetings. The effectiveness of PD is
monitored through evaluation, training logs, Monitoring Books, Grade Books, Individual
Professional Goals, classroom visitation, and student improvement.

Arts Education and Humanities

Becker follows the district’s current written, taught, and assessed Arts curriculum that
covers two (music and art) of the four Arts standards. The Humanities (including traditional,
historical, and contemporary contributions of diverse groups and cultures) are embedded in
the Arts and core curriculum in areas such as Math, Language Arts, and Social Studies.
Students participate in a variety of activities including multicultural education, global themes
and holiday celebrations, multicultural assemblies, Arabic language and culture, African
American Month, and other events.

Extended Learning Opportunities

Advanced Coursework

A variety of techniques are used to identify students with advanced learning needs and
talents, including interest surveys, achievement data, student participation data, and learning
plans that match student needs with advanced learning opportunities. Students identified with
advanced learning needs are matched to appropriate opportunities for enriched or advanced
learning, including accelerated reader program and lesson plans that specify further academic
challenges and enrichment. Becker also has an IGNITE Program after school which provides
challenging learning opportunities for those students and immerses them in technology-based
projects  Every year, our fifth-graders attend a week-long summer camp and learn about the
outdoors and nature, and experiment with science activities and exploration. Summer Camp
is part of the many field-trip opportunities for all of our students. We also provide experiences
outside the classroom with educational field trips such as  visits to the state capitol, over night
Science Camp at Fish Lake, Detroit Zoo, Greenfield Village, Henry Ford Museum, and other
educational points of interests.

Family Involvement

Our School uses various strategies to regularly communicate with the community. Regular
and timely one-way information is given to parents through the use of translated monthly
newsletters and translated notes and letters from teachers as needed, There are also many
opportunities for two-way communication with families and community members, including
conferences, phone calls, workshops, in-services, PTA meetings, general parent  meetings,
parent committees, home visitations, and other methods. We are proud of our 100% 
participation at parent-teacher conferences and 90% attendance at open house.

School & Community Relationships

Becker works with families and community to build positive relationships that support
student learning. Our School has an active Parent-Teacher Association/Parent-Teacher
Organization. The school has a strong relationship with several outside organizations, such
as Madonna University. For several years, we have partnered with Madonna to host a
community health fair promoting health and nutrition education and providing free health
screening services to more than 400 families in the community. ACCESS provides assistance
to parents inside and outside school based on our parents’ special needs and interests. 
Furthermore, volunteers from local schools, colleges, universities, as well as volunteer
parents have been involved with Becker students and staff in many activities. The school
provides opportunities for families to participate in events that support student achievement.
Activities include information on how parents can support student learning at home, staff
development on family involvement, parenting classes that support student and family
learning, computer classes for parents, and conflict-resolution training for students and
adults. Parent support groups, family attendance at school functions, and parent volunteer
experiences all contribute to parents becoming actively engaged with students.

Student Attendance

Our School has a supportive, student-centered climate that promotes attendance and a safe,
orderly environment. Student work is regularly on display in hallways, common areas,
and on television monitors throughout the school. There is a transition program to assist
students moving from grade-to-grade or building-to-building. Students have won numerous
awards and get recognized and honored four times a year during our Honor Roll Assembly.
There are follow-up and accountability notes for parents and students whose attendance
may be negatively impacted by academic, emotional, social, or family problems. Our school
has a crisis plan in place and conducts fire and  tornado drills on a regular basis to ensure
student safety. The School adheres to the district Student Code of Conduct, complies with
Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Plan, maintains an active, ongoing school
climate committee, and provides a system to identify student needs that impact attendance.
The student handbook, Parent Compact, school citizenship plan, parent newsletters,
individual discipline classroom plan, Zangle attendance data, and monthly attendance
reports are all used to build communication between students, staff, and parents regarding
attendance.

School Facilities & Technology

The School and district work to ensure both the safety of all students and staff and that all
mechanical, electrical, heating, ventilation, and water systems meet all safety regulations
and maintenance standards as defined by MIOSHA, OSHA, ADA, OCR, and state and
federal health departments. Written plans are periodically reviewed by maintenance and
other appropriate personnel. Emergency response procedures are taught, practiced, and
reviewed at least annually. Safety signage is displayed to ensure safe parking lot and
vehicle/bus drop-off points.

School facilities are adequate and flexible to support teaching, learning, and support
services for students, staff, and community. The school has barrier-free access to all school
property per ADA guidelines, ability to meet scheduling and learning needs, rooms
available for community and parent programs, food service facilities, and age-appropriate
playgrounds.

The school and district provide access to information and instructional technology
as evidenced by:

1)   A written school/district technology plan

2)   Availability of technology support

3)    Internet access in all classrooms, media center, and administrative offices

4)   Availability of other instructional technologies, computers, district-wide email
service, projectors, portable computers, broadcast station, monitors in each classroom,
emergency system, PA system, scanner, digital cameras, wireless microphone system with
CD player, and various software.

Becker has been accredited by NCA for the past four years.  All teachers have completed
clear goals, benchmarks and common assessments at all grade levels.

Becker MEAP scores have increased significantly, especially in language arts, writing,
math, and science.

Becker teachers received an excellent evaluation for their successful implementation of a
state funded literacy program for grades K-5 titled, Reading First.

Becker is one of six schools statewide selected to participate in a study examining the
educational practices that have made them a “High Performing School” in the state.

Becker students once again participated in Student Council Elections to promote Core
Democratic Values, leadership skills, understanding of the election process and community
service.

Becker has an Arabic literacy program. The staff is implementing a foreign language theme
(Arabic) and has delivered instruction in Arabic to enhance and promote comprehension
and literacy skills in a second language.

Becker parent meetings focus on “Parent/Child Activities” so that parents learn how to
help their children in reading and math in a fun, yet educational way.

Becker has Before-and After-school programs that provide instruction for MEAP
preparation, tutoring, homework assistance, reading help, and ESL and parent
education workshops.

Becker staff oversees and conducts a Science Fair, STAND, Student Council, Peer
Mediation, IGNITE, computer clubs, and Safety and Service squads.

Becker has two full-day kindergartens as part of the early intervention program and
uninterrupted literacy block.