Sally: I do remember a good deal of research on the Waterford program maybe one and a half or two years ago. I know Los Angeles Unified bout the program for the whole district They found it didn't do anything for test scores (and from test scores inferred, rightly or wrongly said with an ironic smile, that the children didn't grow as readers in any measurable way. The computer work on this program looks much the same in my view so I would check it out carefully.
Carol: I am not one to fall for the high claims of intervention programs, including and especially, those presented by computers. But I must speak positively about Waterford's Early Reading (ERP) Program. My school was using this program during the same time as the LAUSD, , but unlike LAUSD, we continued to use it after the negative results were reported by LAUSD in the LA Times. The research base that comes with the program recommends 30 minutes of daily use of the ERP and repeated readings of the literature selections in the form of real-live books that match the computer selections. At our school, we have all K-2 students working on ERP daily for 30 minutes and then students take home the literature books to share with their families. We are not perfect in our implementation, but we strive to use the program "with fidelity." We also use the Waterford lab after school for intervention students. I am not convinced that LAUSD used this program as recommended, and then were quick to blame it when their test results did not magically improve. The program is expensive. Why spend the money and use it half-heartedly? By the way, my school's name is Albert Baxter Elementary in Bellflower, CA. Check out our ever-rising scores on California Department of Ed's website. Consistency across the grade levels and realistic expectations from supplemental programs like Waterford have worked for us. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
