At West Lowndes Elementary School, 19 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders are learning about life, while improving their reading and vocabulary skills.
To increase the skills of students who received low scores on the language arts portion of recent Mississippi Curriculum Tests, Second Edition assessments, Katetria Harris is teaching students how to improve their vocabulary, fluency and reading comprehension skills, with the help of Read 180, an intensive reading intervention program helping educators address adolescent illiteracy and special reading needs.
Students in each of Harris” three Read 180 classes spend the first 20 minutes of class in a “whole group” setting, where they receive an introduction to the lessons of the day, via an Internet-accessible, interactive Promethean whiteboard, and an overview of the activities they will complete in subsequent small group settings.
After the first 20 minutes, students break up into groups of two and each group spends time on independent reading, small-group activities and using the Read 180 computer programs.
At the end of the class, the students again meet as an entire group to review the day”s lessons and ask questions.
“It builds their vocabulary and computer skills tremendously,” Harris said of the Read 180 program. “(Initially,) their vocabulary is real limited. They”ve come in and they”ve worked hard.”
Most of Harris” students tested one grade level below where they should be, but the program gives her hope they”ll test at a more advanced level when students are tested in January.
“When I give the test again, I”ll be able to really see the growth, but I can tell (it”s helping) now,” she said. “They”re talking more, asking questions and are excited about going to the computer parts.”
Students who test well will move out of the Read 180 class.
“They do enjoy it,” she said. “I can tell by the questions they ask. The books are picture-friendly, in color. It”s designed to draw their attention. The stories deal with real-life stories. I pull the background knowledge and have them be able to relate.”
This year, the students have learned about immigration, fires, historical literature, bullying and the story of ”Buddy,” who lived during The Great Depression.
“It”s a good program, because you get to learn about reading, get on the computer and stuff,” said James Thomas, 13.
The son of James and Tanya Thomas, he said his favorite part is working on the computers.
“I like to read,” said Antrinique Brandon, 9, the daughter of Jackie Brandon. “I learn how to read the words,” she said, noting her favorite topic to study has been “bullies.” “Because you can learn not to bully people.”
Learning about Buddy is a favorite activity of Kelby Price, 9.
“It”s very good, because you get to learn how to write and learn how to read,” the daughter of Roxanne Price said of the Read 180 class. “You can learn about (Buddy). He can teach me how to stick up for myself, so nobody can bully (me).”
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