Reading First

Reading FirstM.W. Cuyler Elementary School

September 17, 2004

Reading First

• A Federal Initiative– State Support

• professional development

• funding

– Regional Support• professional development

• coaching

– Local Support• staffing and schedule

• coaching

How did we get this grant?

• Eligible due to socio-economic level of district.• Team approach to writing grant• 48 awarded throughout NYS

How does our school benefit?

• Funding for additional reading staff– allows for smaller instructional groups

• Funding for extensive purchase of materials– all researched and proven to be effective

• Funding for Professional Development– throughout summer

– on-going throughout school year

What is Reading First?

• National Reading Panel• Scientifically Based Reading Research

» Data-driven Instruction» SBRR Strategies and Programs» Flexible Grouping

“Reading is rocket science!”

What is Reading First?

• Instruction concentrated in 5 Areas– Phonemic Awareness

– Phonics

– Fluency

– Vocabulary

– Comprehension

What does this look like?

• More time devoted to reading in every K-3 classroom during an “Uninterrupted” 90 minute Literacy Block.

• More opportunities for instruction to occur in small groups. ie. Intervention groups, K-3.

• More opportunities for individualized instruction.

How are we measuring success?

• On-going assessments– Screening

» DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills)

» PPVT (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test)

» WJ III (Woodcock Johnson – test of comprehension)

– Progress Monitoring» DIBELS

– Diagnostic» varies depending on individual need

What does testing tell us?

• Monitors strengths and needs of children• Allows us to “prescribe” a program for

individual improvement• Three levels of instruction

– Benchmark• low/no risk

– Strategic• some risk

– Intensive• at risk

LINKS

www.edreform.com

Parent Power Newsletter – provides information on latest educational issues

“When children become good readers in the early grades, they are more likely to become better learners throughout their school years and beyond.”