Literacy
The primary goal of Making It Better's Literacy Programs is developing a foundation for academic success through intensive reading tutorials.
Learning to read is a formidable challenge for approximately 60% of our nation's children. Research shows that children who are at risk for reading failure must receive early, intensive, and systematic reading instruction during elementary school if long term success is to be expected.
Literacy at the elementary level is an early predictor of future success. According to Reading Improvement, 2011:
- Reading difficulties have a clear, causal relationship with serious behavior problems.
- Low reading skills in elementary school are a strong predictor of later incarceration.
- High school graduation can be predicted by the reading ability at the end of third grade.
- Low income 4th graders who fail to meet the NAEP's proficiency level in reading are all to likely to become our nation's lowest-income, least skilled, least productive, and most costly citizens tomorrow.
Offering Solutions - Through Literacy Programs
Making It Better's Literacy Program is based upon the 5 components of reading as determined by the National Reading Panel:
Phonemic Awareness & Phonics is the focus of the first half
of each session with the student. Students work on mastering phonetic
sound and word lists through individual help from their tutor in the
beginning of each lesson. Lessons are developed using "Making Words"
curriculum, wherein students manipulate individual letters to build and
change words. This helps the students focus their attention on the
sounds that make up words. In the second lesson of the week the
students work with their tutor on a word sort using the words they
constructed in the first lesson. The word sorts help the students to
discover patterns in words, building their phonemic awareness in an
engaging way.
Fluency & Comprehension is the focus of the second half of
each session. Tutors use guided reading with leveled books to work on
reading strategies and help the children build their reading
comprehension. Leveled books are chosen to fit the needs and interests
of the group, and lessons build on each other to accelerate the
students from one level to the next. Reading levels are monitored and
documented through running records taken periodically over the course
of the tutoring sessions.
Vocabulary is built into each lesson with the students, through
discussion and exploration of the words they are learning.
Additionally, we focus on reviewing high frequency words in correlation
with the words they students are learning in their classroom.
The program is comprised of twice weekly, 45-minute sessions with a low
4:1 student to teacher ratio. Students are leveled and grouped with a
tutor based on comprehensive pre-testing, which includes:
- Leveled Word List
- Comprehension and Fluency Assessment (Comprehensive Reading Inventory designed by Robert B. Cooter Jr.)
- Spelling Inventory (Words Their Way)
Our Approach
Making It Better offers children intensive tutoring and skill building both after school and in "pull-out sessions" during the school day. These sessions take place over the course of the school year. Our trained, degreed professionals work with each child's teacher to assess their individual needs. Our programs incorporate a low 4:1 student to tutor ratio, giving them close attention and developing a relationship of trust. By working closely with school administration and teaching staff, "pull-out" sessions are scheduled in such a way that the students do not miss valuable classroom instruction.
Goals
To move the students' reading level up at least one grade level, if not several. This is accomplished through focused, small group instruction where we aim to move students up 1 DRA book level every 2 weeks. Additionally, the goal of all Making It Better staff is to connect with students on a personal level and to be an adult on whom the children can trust and depend.
2010-11 Results Highlights:
69% of all students showed an improvement in their Reading Grade Level Of those showing improvement, 37% increased two or more grade levels.
64% of all students showed an improvement in their Word Recognition
Of those showing improvement, 54% increased two or more grade levels.
66% of all students showed an improvement in their Fluency
Of those showing improvement, 39% increased two or more grade levels.
69% of all students showed an improvement in their Comprehension
Of those showing improvement, 54% increased two or more grade levels.
92.7% of teachers reported some or significant change in confidence in reading.
Our program showed a 152% increase in students reading at or above grade level.
What Sets Our Literacy Program Apart?
Literacy Program Results 2010
Testimonial
Cost
