Writing Matters at PS 129

PS 129 was rated "A" in all categories on its progress report for 2009 by the NYC Department of Education. The school was in the 91st percentile of all middle schools citywide in the proportion of students making at least one year of progress in ELA. The school outperformed all schools in its peer group in both percentage of students proficient in ELA and median student proficiency. The school provides each student with his/her own laptop, allowing PS 129’s Principal, Yvette Beasley, to focus on preparing students with the new skills they need in the 21st century, while ensuring that they continue to make progress in areas of core content.

Ms. Beasley turned to Teaching Matters in 2006, to help her faculty advance instruction through innovations made possible by technology and to improve students’ overall performance. As a critical part of the partnership, the school comprehensively implemented Writing Matters, a digital age writing program designed by Teaching Matters, extensively throughout the middle school. The program is currently used by 100% of the teachers and students in 6th and 7th grade.

We could not have made the kind of progress we have without the commitment and hard work of our staff and Teaching Matters.  They have been critical partners to our success, especially in rethinking our instructional approach to take advantage of technology in the English Language Arts.  Based on our tremendous success in grades six and seven we will be expanding Writing Matters to eighth grade this year.

- Yvette Beasley, Principal PS 129, Twin Parks Upper