George C. Payne Elementary School - San Jose, CA

Payne is one of four elementary schools in the Moreland School District. Located in San Jose, California, we sit in the heart of the Silicon Valley and reflect our economically and culturally diverse surroundings. Our staff, families, and community partner together to empower every child to become a productive, caring citizen of an ever-changing global society.

Reading is the foundation for differentiated instruction at Payne. One focus of reading instruction is time on text. Teachers dedicate resources to the practice of reading nonfiction and fiction text at students' instructional levels. The most emergent readers spend class time in guided reading groups with a credentialed teacher or an intervention specialist. Primary teachers use a combination of early literacy instructional techniques and independent practice, including researched-based computer programs such as Imagine Learning. In the middle level reading classes, teachers give students voice and choice to increase engagement in reading through menu assignments, literature circles, and direct instruction in comprehension.

The increasing demands of a diverse community, combined with the academic challenge of Common Core State Standards, make it a necessity for teachers to work together, building a comprehensive framework for learning that will target all students. Through ongoing collaboration at weekly grade-level meetings, staff members determine what they want students to learn, how to check for understanding, how to provide enrichment, and what to do if students need further instruction. At Payne, all members of the school community work together to develop a program that will ensure each child will succeed.