Resources to Improve Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary Denise Hall PEDU 625

Original Project Goals Research current reading programs Elementary Middle High Research available reading programs Make recommendations based on student areas of need Discuss funding sources for both the current programs and the potential ones

Sources for Funding Title I funding Title II funding Title VI funding Mecklenburg is going from 1.5 million for FY 2017 to 1.8 million for FY 2018 Salaries take the majority of the Title I money Supplemental Materials are purchased with remaining money 1% must be used for Parent Involvement Title II funding Can only be used for Professional Devolvement, not materials and supplies Title VI funding Can only be used for Professional Devolvement, not not materials and supplies Textbooks Can be used for core instruction and supplemental materials Special Education

Current Programs Journeys Corrective Reading Sidewalks LLI Core program used by elementary Paid for through Textbook fund Corrective Reading Program used by elementary and middle schools, primarily with special education Sidewalks Intervention Title I funded Used by three of the four elementary schools LLI Used by one of the elementary schools

Additional Measures Corrective Reading iReady Used both at the elementary school and middle school level iReady Every student takes the diagnostic Schools request licenses for students needing remediation Payment for these two different services is done as a lump sum in the beginning of the year Use at each school is a principal decision Developmental Reading class high school

Observations The elementary schools biggest need is to give students more time for independent reading. The middle schools do mostly group reading rather than individual reading. The high schools often assign reading as homework, with a small amount being read together in class.

Developmental Reading Class Offered in the fall at PVHS Criteria: Failing score on Grade 8 Reading SOL Used High Interest, Low Level books Relevant Meaningful Interesting Designed to feed into English 9 Teachers measured reading level at the beginning and end of the semester to assess growth Teacher opinion: Smaller groups would make it more effective

And Then There’s Dyslexia The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity Defines Dyslexia Provides resources for People with dyslexia Educators Parents “Tips for Dyslexics from Dyslexics” Struggling Readers Calls for students to receive special education services to close the gap with their peers Specifically points out the importance of basic reading skills “The report of the National Research Council pointed out that these concerns about literacy derive not from declining levels of literacy in our schools but rather from recognition that the demands for high levels of literacy are rapidly accelerating in our society (Torgensen, 2004).

Recommendations Utilize the resources that already have been purchased Increase consistency Provide professional development opportunities Continue to encourage home involvement Address specific needs of students Challenges: Time Personnel Disabilities Wilson Orton-Gillingham Pinterest Resources

References Torgensen, J.K. (2004). Struggling readers: What works for intermediate level students. Retrieved from http://www.fcrr.org/science/pdf/torgesen/penn_special_ed.pdf Yale School of Medicine. (2017). The yale center for dyslexia and creativity. Retrieved from http://dyslexia.yale.edu