1. Aiming for Success: Schools, Students & Families Improving Reading in Middle School California Department of Education, Special Education Division’s special project, State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) is funded through a contract with the Napa County Office of Education. SPDG is funded from federal funds provided from a federal competitively awarded State Personnel Development Grant to California, #H323A120019, provided from the U.S. Department of Education Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education act (IDEA). Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the U. S. Department of Education. 1

2. Welcome! Thank You for Coming 2

3. PTI Logo Here XXX is a Parent Training & Information Center (PTI) PTIs help families participate effectively in their child’s education. We serve families of children and young adults from birth to age 26 with all disabilities: physical, cognitive, emotional, and learning. XXX serves YYY Counties 3

4. Purpose of this Workshop 1.Introduce you to Project READ 2.Provide background on the Common Core State Standards 3.Understand the importance of reading for college, career, and/or community life 4.Learn how to support your child’s reading 5.Learn about Scholastic Programs (READ 180, System 44, English 3-D) 6.Learn how Project READ includes ALL students 7.Know where to go for help 4

5. 5 Share one thing you have done or are doing to help your child be a strong reader

6. Project READ California’s Project READ focuses on improving reading achievement and academic performance for middle school students, including students with disabilities and English Learners (EL) in 44 middle schools throughout California. It is NEVER to late to strengthen reading skills! 6

7. Project READ is a one of a kind project in California that works with middle school sites and teachers to improve the reading skills and academic outcomes of all students, including those with disabilities 7 Project READ: What is it about?

8. Your Project READ Team There is a team at your school site who will be overseeing Project READ: Lead Administrator who leads Project READ at your school. If you have any questions about Project READ, this is who to contact at your school Teachers (Special Education, English Learner, Reading, English Language Arts, History/Social Studies, and Science) who plan and organize Project READ’s activities at your school Site Coach who helps plan and train teachers to improve the way they teach reading across different subject areas 8

9. Project READ and the Common Core State Standards Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are K - 12 academic standards CCSS Assessments are moving into computer–based assessments Common Core emphasizes critical thinking and problem solving Common Core and Project READ Common Core and you 9

10. Common Core State Standards Information CA Dept. of Education – Special Education http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/cc/ Parent & Student Tab: Resources for students in the Special Education Community Common Core State Standards Initiative www.corestandards.org Parents’ Guide to Student Success http://www.pta.org/files/Common%20Core%20State%20Standa rds%20Resources/2013%20Guide%20Bundle%5F082213.pdf 10

11. Common Core Big Ideas 11 Gain information using more nonfiction Reading and writing grounded in facts Build reading vocabulary English Language Arts/Literacy

12. A Different Kind of Reading Students will be required to do “close reading” and provide answers based on what they have read Old standards – How do you feel about what you read? New Standards – Why do you believe that your answer is correct based on evidence in the reading? 12

13. Three Things to Remember 1.Literacy is everyone’s job 2.Students should be able to read hard texts correctly and by themselves in all their courses 1.Students should be able to argue a point or explain a concept in all their courses 13

14. Reading is Important The No-Nonsense Facts: Students who are good readers do better in school Difficulty with reading can affect behavior and ability in all academic areas Teenage readers are more likely to go to college Reading improves language and writing skills There is a link between reading and career success (and better earning opportunities) 14

15. Reading is Important The Fun Facts Reading increases your child’s knowledge about the world around him or her Reading expands your child’s imagination Reading is a great form of entertainment Reading brings families together 15 “Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.” -- Albert Einstein

16. Reading is Key Research shows: Middle school students who are on target to be college, career, and/or community ready in reading are substantially more likely to be college ready in English, math, and science In 2008, the share of jobs in the U.S. economy requiring more than a high school education was 59% and that percentage is growing 16 For college, career, and community readiness

17. Project READ and Your Child Individualized reading assessments to determine his or her reading level Instruction designed to meet his or her individual needs Ongoing assessment to make sure his or her reading and learning is improving Leading to college, career, and/or community readiness 17

18. Reading Levels Do you know your child’s reading level? Reading Levels 18

19. Understanding Reading Levels The most important factor for school success and college, career, and/or community readiness is a student’s ability to read and understand texts of increasing complexity over time State testing gives a snapshot once a year—that’s not enough to monitor struggling readers Reading assessments such as Lexile levels or Developmental Reading Assessments (DRA) can track progress month to month and really monitor progress 19

20. Tracking Reading Progress: Lexile Levels One research based tool to track progress and help students read better is “Lexile Levels” Match a student’s reading ability with difficulty of text material-the level of book that a student can read with 75% comprehension 75% comprehension is the level identified by experts as offering the reader a certain amount of comfort and yet still offering a challenge Two ways to use these: Measure how difficult a text is or identify a student’s reading ability level 20

21. Reading Assessment: Asking the Right Questions Use conferences to ask about your child’s reading levels If a teacher says your child is “struggling” or “below grade level,” ask how that is measured If your child is NOT progressing, ask what else can be done to help him or her at school—including assessment for special education Lexile Level by grade: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/boo k-selection-tips/lexile-levels-made-easy Choose books by Lexile Level at www.lexile.comwww.lexile.com 21

22. Demystifying Reading The Language of Reading Phonemic Awareness Phonics Fluency Vocabulary Development Comprehension 22

23. IRIS Center The IRIS Center has interactive online modules, materials, resources, and videos that are available at no cost through the IRIS website! Middle School reading information is located at: 23 http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/ sec-rdng2/#content Search for more resources at www.iriscenter.com

24. READ 180, System 44, English 3D READ 180 is a computer-based interactive reading program used to help students improve their reading skills READ 180 and System 44 provide lessons in reading, writing and vocabulary 24 Read 180, System 44, and English 3D are designed to provide instruction based on your child’s reading levels

25. READ 180 READ 180 provides ongoing assessments and reports that allow teachers to follow individual student progress and adapt instruction for each student READ 180 is used throughout California and the U.S. and has a demonstrated record of helping children improve their reading Read 180’s Family Portal is available in English and Spanish http://read180.scholastic.com/familyportal 25

26. http://read180.scholastic.com/familyportal 26

27. READ 180 – A Typical Day Students will receive 90 minutes of reading instruction each day Whole Group Instruction Small Group Instruction Independent Reading 27

28. READ 180 Glossary Lexile – READ 180’s measurement unit rBook – Online interactive textbook Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) – A test that determines a student’s reading ability Dashboard – Site where students can monitor their performance eReads – Additional reading for students 28

29. 29 http://system44.scholastic.com/family-portal/

30. 30 English 3D Primarily for students who are not native English speakers but who speak and understand English well English 3D’s goal is to build a strong academic vocabulary in order to excel in the Common Core State Standards course work

31. Support Reading at Home Ask what your child is reading at school and encourage him or her to tell you about it Keep books and other reading materials available Read books, magazines, newspapers or Internet news websites and talk about what you’re reading Use the library regularly 31

32. Support Reading at Home Find a time to turn the TV off and read as a family Students with disabilities can use Bookshare.org Consider an eReader device (Kindle, iPad, Nook, iPod) 32 Encourage your child to read for 15 minutes before falling asleep

33. Support Reading at Home Allow your child to choose his or her reading material (within reason) Ask the teacher for the class reading list Watch a movie adapted from a book with your child and read the book together 33

34. Support Reading at Home Encourage your child to read when he or she is riding the bus, waiting at the doctors office or passing time between activities 34 Read the same book as your child so you can talk about the story

35. General and special education teachers School Counselor School Librarian At PTI Name Read 180 Portal: http://read180.scholastic.com/ familyportal CDE Common Core Website (Click on the Parent Tab) http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/ 35 Where to Find Help

36. Questions? End of Workshop Surveys! 36

37. 37 Questions Evaluations

38. Wrapping Up Shared goals: We want to see every child succeed. Literacy is a door to opportunity that needs to be open for all children Project READ helps schools, teachers, and students who are struggling with reading achievement get tools to succeed It’s never too late to help a child get better at reading Get involved, ask questions, and partner with your school! 38

39. Resources: Project READ Project READ http://www.calstat.org/projectread.html Overview of Project READ and a list of the middle schools The Iris Center http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/sec- rdng2/#content Online module for Middle School Reading Instruction 39

40. Resources: Project READ Parent Training & Information Centers http://dredf.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/PTI- CPRC_CA_MAP_012014.pdf Find the CA parent center for your area Scholastic READ 180 Family Portal http://read180.scholastic.com/familyportal Learn more about how READ 180 works and what happens in the classroom 40

41. Resources: Common Core CA Dept. of Education – Special Education http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/cc/ Parent & Student Tab: Resources for students in the Special Education Community Common Core State Standards http://www.corestandards.org/ Comprehensive list of CCSS by grade level 41

42. Resources: Common Core A Deeper Dive into Aligning IEPs to the CCSS http://cde.videossc.com/archives/032114/ Videos and materials for teachers and parents Writing IEPs with the Common Core http://www.calstat.org/publications/pdfs/2014winterSpringedge.pdf A list of questions to guide you through the IEP The Common Core: Ten Things Parents Need to Know to Support Their Children with Disabilities http://www.calstat.org/publications/pdfs/2014Eng-WS- inserts/Parents_CCSS_spring2014_EDge.pdf Helpful list if your child has an IEP 42

43. Resources: Common Core National PTA Parent Guide to Student Success http://www.pta.org/files/Common%20Core%20S tate%20Standards%20Resources/2013%20Guide %20Bundle%5F082213.pdf An overview of some of things your child will learn in English/Literacy and Math 43

44. Everyone at Project READ thanks you for coming! 44 SCHOOL LOGO