Student progress 'phenomenal' in summer reading program
By M.A. Lewis
news@thefranklinpress.com
Reprinted with the permission of The Franklin Press
Some of Macon County's school kids will finish their summer reading much better than they started. At least that's the way it's looking so far, according to teachers and administrators who have given up their summer vacations along with students to train for and implement a new reading program. "The growth of the students has been phenomenal," Matthew Gardner, consultant for Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes said Monday.
Press photo/Barbara McRae
Students in one of the work groups practice air writing with a teacher's guidance. Forming letters in the air helps them visualize the shapes and adds a tactile element.
This summer, selected teachers are undergoing a five-week training program to learn how to recognize reading disorders and learn techniques to improve reading skills.
The Macon County Board of Education approved the program at a cost of $130,000. The program is being facilitated by Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes - an innovative
program contracted by the school board to train teachers. Also, students throughout the district were chosen and invited to participate in the four-week program,
studying four hours a day until July 20, for a total of 80 hours. Of the 70 kids originally enrolled, 58 are completing the program.
Lindamood-Bell is receiving $50,000 for its training services and teaching resources. An additional $80,000 was approved to pay teachers while they train. Teachers from elementary schools as well as the middle school, intermediate school, high school and K-12 schools are undergoing training.
The program takes an approach that helps students not only recognize letters and words, but also visualize them, much like one would visualize directions. Instead of.jpg)
road numbers and streets, many times we visualize by landmarks and surroundings. Gardner said the program helps kids to visualize letters and words by air spelling - using
their fingers to draw letters in the air while pronouncing them.
But there are kids who can read well. Their inflection and diction are good. For all intents and purposes, they read like champs. The problem is, they don't comprehend what they read. The program works to help kids overcome these issues.
If the partnership continues, Lindamood-Bell would work with the school system to institute a curriculum, continue to train teachers in the system and eventually certify teachers to train within the system. The funding for the continued partnership would be contingent on additional funding.
Pre-testing was conducted before students began the program and they will be post-tested when the four weeks are over. But, even by the third week, students were showing marked progress. Rene Burt's 9-year-old son Dylan is in the program. He was diagnosed with verbal apraxia at the age of two and reading has been a struggle for him. "This has been such an awesome journey for my son," Burt said Tuesday of Dylan's time in the summer reading program. Apraxia affects a person's ability to perform tasks or movements when asked. In Dylan's case, it only affects his speech. Burt said the communication between Dylan's brain and mouth muscles is affected. He knows exactly what he wants to say, it's just hard to say it.
Though years of speech therapy have helped a lot, his mom says the summer program has been such a positive reinforcement. "Self-confidence is huge for children, and the self-confidence the teachers are providing is simply amazing. The progress my son has made in such a short time is unbelievable. His speech, which is directly affected by the apraxia, has been positively impacted throughout the program as well. Macon County is so blessed to have the support and opportunity to experience the Lindamood-Bell Reading Program."
Press photo/Barbara McRae
Matthew Gardner, regional manager of School Partnerships for Lindamood-Bell, explains the science behind the program during a presentation to community members Monday.
Macon County Schools Superintendent Dan Brigman said the program is part of the school board's adopted strategic plan - part of which is to ensure that every child read at grade level by third grade.
The Lindamood-Bell program helps close that gap, he explained. "Schools are required to be the great equalizer." Brigman said. "Regardless of economic status we're required to provide a supportive
environment that will challenge all children. It (Lindamood-Bell) is another opportunity to be able to give children hope for success."
Brigman thanked Macon County's Rotary Clubs for providing funding for lodging for Lindamood-Bell's personnel. Also, he thanked local faith-based organizations that have provided snacks for the students each day of the summer session. Both measures have helped the school system save money.
