NAIS Reading Specialist and Programs

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Dr. April Silimperi

 

“The right book at the right time can open doors of possibility for a better world.”

~L. Laminack & K. Kelly

 

It is my honor and privilege to serve the NAIS community as your reading coach! The heart of my work is guided by and focuses on the STUDENTS of NAIS.  My vision is to inspire all students to grow as readers and writers while fostering a love for and embracing a joy of literacy.  In my role, I have opportunities to work with students- individually, in small groups, and as an entire student body.  I collaborate with parents, teachers, and administration to support and extend learning experiences aimed at developing student readers who thrive within a robust curriculum and literacy instruction grounded in research-based practices.  

 

I was a classroom teacher for 27 years, including both special education and regular education teacher. I received national certification as a National Writing Project Fellow in 2009.  Additionally, I worked as an adjunct instructor and professional development consultant/coach for Penn State Lehigh Valley over a nine year period.  In 2015, I completed my School Administration K-12 Principal/Supervisor’s Certification and was awarded my Doctorate of Educational Leadership in 2021 from Delaware Valley University of PA.   

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email at asilimperi@nazarethasd.org 
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  • NAIS Reading Programs

    5th Grade ELA Program - Benchmark Literacy

    • Benchmark Literacy is used in our three K-4 Nazareth Elementary Schools. This program provides teachers with reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language instruction. Teachers also support students with the Lucy Calkins writing program, Units of Study.

     

    6th Grade ELA Program - Springboard

    • Springboard provides teachers with texts that allows learners to analyze ideas from many perspectives and encompasses a variety of genres. Through the program, students progress from guided reading to collaborative projects and independent work. Students become more confident researchers through the program with analyzing the credibility of sources and utilizing citations. Multimedia, text, and film offer an array of real life connections for learners. While students learn strategies for the writing process, they have opportunities to write narrative, explanatory, and argumentative texts.

    Read 20 minutes per da 

    *Anytime you are reading together and discussing the contents of the text, that is great Comprehension practice.

    *Relating the text to other text(s), the real world, and individual interests (self) are great ways to practice Making Connections.

    *Utilizing words and phrases around unknown words can help readers understand unknown Vocabulary words.

    *To practice Reading Fluency, consider taking turns reading aloud with your child. They will benefit from hearing the expression in your voice while you read.