Instruction in Action is a new video series hosted by Director of Teaching and Learning Patrice Woods. Each installment will look at the creative ways Poughkeepsie City School District faculty teach students, and the professional development offered to the staff to help them find those creative routes. Check back often for new installments.
Read the World
The 2025 Read the World motivational reading program wrapped up with a Jeopardy-style competition in which students showed off their reading comprehension and retention skills.
The second-year program aims to enhance students' reading abilities, strengthen comprehension skills and ignite excitement for reading. The fourth grades from both Clinton and Warring elementary schools took part.
The students all read the same book, “Amari and the Despicable Wonders,” over the course of roughly three months. Through the program, the students’ reading comprehension was monitored through weekly quizzes and teachers assessed areas of strengths and improvement.
Five students from each school were then selected to take part in the competition held at Clinton. The host school ended up winning on a final tiebreaking question; Alani Oliver, who answered the winning question, earned the highest individual score of any competitor and earned the grand prize, an iPad and a gift card. Two other students, one from each school, also won gift cards.
Prior to the competition, program lead and co-founder Sheba Abrahaim welcomed both schools and spoke to the students, as did Bill Duke, the Poughkeepsie-born actor, director, humanitarian and author. A conversation between Duke and Abrahaim was the inspiration for the program. Poughkeepsie City School District Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Gregory Mott, who will take the reins as superintendent July 1, also spoke to the students, as did Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson.
The program this year was supported by Mayor Yvonne Flowers, Jacobson, Councilwoman Ondie James, Heritage Federal Credit Union, the City of Poughkeepsie PBA and Marist University.
Read the World
The 2025 Read the World motivational reading program wrapped up with a Jeopardy-style competition in which students showed off their reading comprehension and retention skills.
The second-year program aims to enhance students' reading abilities, strengthen comprehension skills and ignite excitement for reading. The fourth grades from both Clinton and Warring elementary schools took part.
The students all read the same book, “Amari and the Despicable Wonders,” over the course of roughly three months. Through the program, the students’ reading comprehension was monitored through weekly quizzes and teachers assessed areas of strengths and improvement.
Five students from each school were then selected to take part in the competition held at Clinton. The host school ended up winning on a final tiebreaking question; Alani Oliver, who answered the winning question, earned the highest individual score of any competitor and earned the grand prize, an iPad and a gift card. Two other students, one from each school, also won gift cards.
Prior to the competition, program lead and co-founder Sheba Abrahaim welcomed both schools and spoke to the students, as did Bill Duke, the Poughkeepsie-born actor, director, humanitarian and author. A conversation between Duke and Abrahaim was the inspiration for the program. Poughkeepsie City School District Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Gregory Mott, who will take the reins as superintendent July 1, also spoke to the students, as did Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson.
The program this year was supported by Mayor Yvonne Flowers, Jacobson, Councilwoman Ondie James, Heritage Federal Credit Union, the City of Poughkeepsie PBA and Marist University.
Communicating Math
On an early release day, teachers at Morse Elementary took part in a powerful professional development session focused on mathematical discourse. They explored strategies to help students and teachers work together, share ideas, and solve problems — building deeper understanding of math in the classroom.
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