MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/F07446F3/ReadingImprovementProgramsforTitleIStudents.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Reading Improvement Programs for Title I Students

Reading Improvement Programs for Title I Students

 

The primary purpose of the Grandview Title I Reading Program is to assist students in becoming more fluent and enthusiastic readers and thinkers.  Title I targets students who scored at level one or two on their last North Carolina End of Grade test in reading.

Currently, we are using two nationally recognized reading improvement programs to accomplish this goal: Higher Order Thinking Skills with computers and Reading Counts.  Students are assigned to one o= r both programs based on their test scores at the discretion of the principal.

 

Higher Order Thinking Skills

HOTS is a thinking skills program desig= ned especially for Title I students.  This non-remedial approach to teaching thinking skills assists stude= nts in improving their basic skills and builds confidence in their own ability = to meet challenges successfully.

Students begin each HOTS class with a family-style discussion of the day’s topic.  After being assigned t= he challenge activity, students work at computers using software developed specifically to be within their ability, but difficult enough for students = to feel somewhat frustrated.  The= y work through the activity independently.  The teacher assists only by asking questions which will lead the stu= dent toward a solution.  This is a = new experience for many students who are accustomed to receiving direct answers= from the teacher.  The lesson usual= ly concludes with a short group discussion of the challenge activity.  Meeting a challenge successfully b= uilds students’ self-esteem while increasing their skill level.<= /span>

 

Reading Counts

Did you know the average student in grades K-12 spends only seven minutes a day reading books?  Most students = can read, but many do not read well.

Reading Counts provides time for students to practice the reading skills they have learned.  Students read in a R= eading Counts book of their choice on their reading level about 45 minutes a day t= hree to four days per week.  They t= hen demonstrate their comprehension by taking computerized tests which credit points based on the difficulty of the book.  In addition, students receive dire= ct instruction in basic reading skills in preparation for the End of Grade tes= t.