|
|
|
Is your child in remedial reading but not making
any progress?
Or perhaps she
spent a year in remedial reading but only made three months
progress. This means she actually fell further behind her
peers.
The fact that
most schools fail to use
research based reading programs that are implemented by
trained teachers is the main reason why only
32 percent of children are proficient readers by the end
of 3rd grade.
It makes you
wonder about the kind of remedial program the school is
using and how effective it is.
So what ARE the criteria for remedial reading
programs?
In
this issue of the
Special Ed Advocate Sue Whitney, Research Editor at
Wrightslaw, explains the reasons for reading failure and the
requirement for research based programs that are implemented
by "trained" teachers.
Please don't hesitate to
forward this issue of the
Special Ed Advocate to other families, friends, and
colleagues.
Sign up free today! l Read
previous issues |
|
|
Three Reasons
for Reading Failure |
|
 Tragically,
75 percent of children who are not proficient readers by the
end of third grade will never be proficient readers.
In
What are the Criteria for Remedial Reading Programs, Sue
Whitney says:
"I am not
aware of any research showing that a research based
program will work if it is used by a teacher who is not
properly trained, if the teacher-student ratio is wrong,
if the required hours per day and week are wrong, or if
the program is wrong for the child's stage of reading
development."
Reading programs
will not teach your child to read proficiently if:
1. The program
is not appropriate for the child,
2. There are too many students in the reading class,
3. The pace of the instruction is too rapid for children to
achieve mastery of skills presented.
Stages of
Reading Development
If the reading
program is not matched to your child's stage of reading
development and is not sufficiently intense to bring his
skills to where they need to be for his age and grade, it is
worthless for your child.
If the program
is not appropriate for your child's reading stage, it will
be ineffective for him, even if it works for other children
his age.
For more
information about the stages of reading development, read
the complete text of the article,
What are the Criteria for Remedial Reading Programs. |
|
back to the top |
|
|
Six Qualities of Effective Reading Programs
|
|
 1.
Effective programs are driven by reading research, not
ideology.
2. Effective programs emphasize direct, systematic,
intensive, and sustained reading.
3. Effective programs require school-wide buy-in before they
are adopted.
4. Effective programs are supported by initial professional
development and extended follow-up training throughout the
school year.
5. When implementing an effective program, the school needs
to be committed to the integrity of the program's
instructional approach and materials.
6. Effective programs make effective use of instructional
time, provide multiple reading opportunities, and employ a
variety of reading assessments.
Source:
Considerations When Selecting a Reading Program. |
|
back to the top |
|
|
A Model Reading Program: Reading First |
|
Reading First, a model program from the U.S. Department of
Education calls for 90 minutes of instruction per day, 5
days a week, from kindergarten through grade 3.
Children who are not making sufficient progress receive
additional instruction.
This model assumes that reading instruction takes place in
general education classrooms. Children are not allowed to
fall behind. They are given the instruction they need when
they need it.
"A high-quality reading program that is based on
scientifically based research must include instructional
content based on the five essential components of reading
instruction integrated into a coherent instructional
design.
"The design should also consider the allocation of time,
including a protected, uninterrupted block of time for
reading instruction of more than 90 minutes per day. "
 Read
more about the
Guidance for the Reading First Program, from the U.S.
Department of Education in the article,
What are the Criteria for Remedial Reading Programs.
|
|
back to the top |
|
|
11 Questions to Ask About Your Childs' Reading Program
|
 Here
are some questions you need to ask about your child's
reading program:
1. What is the name of my child's reading program?
2. Is the reading program researched-based? Does the program
include the five essential elements identified by the
National Reading Panel and required by
No Child Left Behind?
3. How many children will be in my child's reading group?
4. How have the children in this group been selected?
5. Has the teacher been trained in direct, systematic,
multisensory reading instruction?
6. Is the teacher certified in this particular program?
7. Has the teacher completed a supervised practicum in this
program?
8. How many hours of instruction per week will my child
receive?
9. How will the pace of the instruction be determined?
10. What criteria will be used to determine mastery?
11. How will I be informed about my child's progress?
More information about Reading and Research Based
Reading Programs.
Learn more about
teaching children to read. |
|
back to the top
|
|
|
