Lori,
I absolutely agree with you. When I suggested that no "program" is
better than reading, I certainly should have clarified that I meant
"in general" and that some programs may have benefits for some
children. It is the "all" that I object to, again, in general. And I
think that if people are "in general" looking at fluency, the first
thing that should be considered is more reading at an easy level.
Just plain practice. I think schools are getting into a bad habit of
looking for "a program" for this or "a program" for that, rather than
first considering what can be done without going out and spending
tens of thousands of dollars for something that may not offer more
than just reading practice might offer. And for sure, mandating that
all students must do something because some students need
intervention is just ridiculous.
Renee
On Mar 10, 2010, at 12:35 PM, EDWARD JACKSON wrote:
I think a pretty important part of this discussion has to be how
and when such interventions are and should be used. When one of my
boys (an above average reader, competent beyond grade level
expectations with any measure) was in grade school, the school
purchased an intervention and then mandated its use with all
students. I raised hell. Sorry, but if I have a headache, we don't
all run out and take tylenol!! As we work with kids who are having
difficulty with reading, wouldn't it be nice to be able to reach
for a tool or strategy...even a program, without feeling compelled
to use it with every student. While I might find fault with many
of commercial programs, I am willing to concede that there are some
children that these programs might reach. For those children, I am
equally unwilling to deny the possibility.
Lori Jackson M.Ed.Reading Specialist
Broken Bow, NE
EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD
Join me
To: [email protected]
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:49:43 -0500
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Fluency
I have to agree that, for most students, wide reading of "just-
right" or even slightly easy text will work wonders. BUT, there
is always a small group of kids who need a more explicit
intervention, whether we like it or not. I have teachers using
Read Naturally and the students do seem to benefit from it and
enjoy doing it. The teachers see the pay-off, otherwise they
wouldn't continue using it, but every one of them emphasizes that
it is only for a small group of students, carefully selected, for
whom other things (readers theater, choral reading, etc.) has been
unsuccessful.
My school has not used this program yet, but another school in our
district has tried the Rewards Program. This is for 5-6 grade
students, I believe. While the person who implemented the program
admits it's not overly stimulating for the students, it did make a
difference in their fluency. It is a short-term program done
daily. I found some information on the program on the FCRR.org
web site (Florida Center for Reading Research).
Again, nothing beats tons of reading to build fluency, but for the
student who is not a fluent reader, chances are reading has become
a chore and something he or she avoids. We have to actively work,
using the tools we have to work with, to rebuild their confidence
and to help them view themselves as productive readers. I also
agree, however, that these fluency interventions need to be a part
of a comprehensive instructional program, not something done in
isolation!
Beth
Language Arts Resource Specialist, Title 1 Reading
-----Original Message-----
From: Deb Butterfield <[email protected]>
To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group
<[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, Mar 10, 2010 9:44 am
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Fluency
We use the Read Naturally program. The students love it.
"Yingling" <[email protected]> 3/9/2010 10:10 PM >>>
oes anyone know of an intervention program proven to improve
fluency in
pper elementary grades? Right now we have Soar to Success and
Great Leaps.
ut, these programs aren't helping our 4th/5th grade fluency. Any
ideas?
hanks,
enni
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John Lennon
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