San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Powers SIPPS Expansion with Technology
Think Together is proud to partner with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to expand access to early literacy and numeracy programs throughout its San Bernardino and Riverside County school sites.
For the 2024-2025 school year, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians invested $100,000 to help build foundational literacy skills for thousands of students in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Think Together staff receive training in the Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS) curriculum and serve students in transitional kindergarten (TK) through 2nd grade.
Their contribution provides technology in each classroom which allows staff to receive ongoing professional development, deliver lesson plans and assess students’ understanding of literacy and numeracy concepts.
“We are proud to partner with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to ensure that our staff are equipped with the tools and training necessary to create innovative, student-centered learning environments,” shared Sr. Director of Corporate Foundation Relations Lawrence Gustafson. “Their generous investment directly supports staff to empower our students to achieve proficiency in reading and math.”
Think Together’s early literacy programs serve TK-2nd grade students at 83 elementary schools, serving 40 students per school. Each site will receive two iPads, along with an additional 12 hours of SIPPS specific training. The goal is for each student to be proficient in ELA and math standards by third grade, which studies have shown that early access to literacy and numeracy can support this.
To accomplish such an ambitious goal, Think Together students and staff at Challenger School of Sports and Fitness in Victor Elementary School District were grouped into cohorts of three or four peers with priority attention from their program leaders.
“I have found it beneficial to teach my students to use SIPPS every day at program, with three to four students only, which allows them to listen, stay focused and implement it on their own without me there,” shared Program Leader Tatum Fernandez. “Because of the resources from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians we were able to utilize the SIPPS flash cards, practice vowels, and sight words to help them improve their reading since the beginning of the school year.”
An added benefit to students receiving such hands-on learning is that students are engaged while they learn to improve their reading and writing skills. Second-grade student Kaitlyn enjoys learning to spell with SIPPS. “Spelling is fun because it helps you learn to write and finish your sentences,” Kaitlyn shared.
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians supports programs that create pathways to a better future through education. This includes afterschool programs as well as S.T.E.A.M. education, college and career readiness, community-based music, and arts access as well as scholarship assistance.
Thank you to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for helping Think Together to change the odds for kids and provide much-needed literacy and number development for their futures. Follow Think Together on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X for more stories.
