FLEX / WYNN Times

In September, all Grade 4 students were assessed in different areas of reading. Students took five short assessments over five days testing them on 12 different reading strategies including recalling facts and details, understanding sequence, making predictions and identifying author’s purpose. Teachers then graded each assessment to see which reading strategies students were weakest in.

The Grade 4 team then got together to divide all students into appropriate FLEX or WYNN groups. Every day after recess, from 1:30 to 2pm, Grade 4 students switch for FLEX or WYNN time. FLEX, which was what the time was originally called, is a flexible time where students work in small groups with a teacher on something academic they may be struggling or having difficulty with. Groups are led by many teachers within the building. Your child may be working with a Grade 4 teacher, Reading Teacher, Special Education Teacher or Permanent Substitute Teacher. The more adults we have working with the children, the smaller the groups are which means more direct attention and guidance can be given. Now we call it WYNN time, which stands for What You Need Now.

Since reading is so important, as you need to be able to read and understand what you read to succeed in other academic areas, we always start our FLEX or WYNN groups using reading data and reviewing strategies students need more help with. Once students have rotated among the groups reviewing all weak areas, students are then put into an enrichment group where they will do activities using a certain novel. Again, this will be directed by a teacher in the building – not necessarily a fourth grade teacher.

Grade 4 teachers have decided to strengthen weak reading strategies during WYNN time on Mondays thought Thursdays. On Friday, teachers plan on using the WYNN time to address needs in Math.

Later in the year, if all reading needs are met, we might use the time to address needs in writing or social studies. The idea is to use the time, given data that we regularly collect, to address needs of students across the grade level.