| Strategic Reading Improves
Test Scores! February 2008 HIGHLIGHTS Strategic Reading, a one-semester course offered for the first time this year, has resulted in significant gains in reading performance. On the reading portion of the ACT, 55% of the students raised their scaled reading score between 1- 4 points--as an example, from a 16 to a 20. On a metacognitive survey of reading strategy awareness, 58% of the students raised their score at least 10%, with the range of improvement from 10-50%. This data reveals that students have grown in their awareness of what strategies to use, though they may still need help in application. Offered as an elective through the reading department, Strategic Reading uses the four components of research-based reading instruction--decoding, fluency, vocabulary building, and comprehension—to help students improve reading performance. As students develop skills in the four identified areas, they also receive guidance in applying the strategies to content area classes (English, social studies, and science), thus giving them the additional support they may need to succeed in such courses. Course instructors Laura DeBartolo and Becky Mueller are very excited about the results and hope to build the program, perhaps with different levels of instruction, as they continue to work with students. If you have questions, please e-mail ldebart@d115.org or bmuelle@d115.org |