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ImprovingReading Comprehensionthru AdaptiveOnlineInstruction

About Headsprout

Headsprout is an adaptive learning software company that creates reading products that are effective, easy to use, engaging and fun. Headsprout was founded in 1999 and is based out of Seattle, WA. Mission: To be a major force in helping eliminate illiteracy in young children around the world

Presenters
Presenters: Jim Ferranti Program Specialist, San Bernardino City Unified School District Marta Leon, Ph.D. Director of Instructional Development for Headsprout Rachel R. Pioch, Programs Trainer/Consultant Programs Trainer/Consultant

Deconstructing Reading Comprehension

Dr. Marta Leon Director of Instructional Development Headsprout

What does comprehension mean?


Understanding what one reads Example: Look at the ceiling. How do we know if someone comprehends? Follow instructions Answer questions Retell or paraphrase

Why is reading comprehension crucial?


Reading comprehension is a requisite skill necessary for: Academic success across subject areas Including language-independent subjects like mathematics Acquiring vocabulary Learning independently Enjoying literature

State of reading comprehension


In 2001, 40% of fourth-grade students scored below basic reading levels. Today, that number is 33%. We have evidence that Reading First helped young students increase their ability to read words, but not their capacity for comprehension.
Sheila W. Valencia, Education Professor, University of Washington

Comprehension is the missing piece.

We all agree, comprehension is important


But how is it taught? Typically by: Experience with text: reading Asking students how or why they choose an answer and commenting on it Teachers modeling Practice answering questions about stories Working on vocabulary None of these approaches directly teach learners how to comprehend.

Comprehension is not a monolithic skill


In-depth analysis reveals four distinct types of comprehension: Literal or factual comprehension Inferential comprehension Main idea comprehension Derived meaning comprehension

These are independent skills.

What is adaptive instruction?

Adaptive instruction personalizes the sequence, contents, and other instructional elements for each learner depending on the learners error patterns. Features of adaptive instruction: Progress at own pace Receive individualized practice and instruction on an as-needed basis

How does adaptive instruction help teach reading comprehension strategies? Designed to divide the task of comprehending into manageable steps. For example: 1. Determine what type of comprehension is called for 2. Locate the part of the passage that contains the relevant information 3. Apply the strategy to answer the question

How does adaptive instruction help teach reading comprehension strategies? Many opportunities to practice each strategy and receive individualized feedback Cumulative practice on strategies with increasingly more complex passages Programmed, gradual release toward learner independence

What is adaptive instruction?

Adaptive instruction personalizes the sequence, contents, and other instructional elements for each learner depending on the learners error patterns. Features of adaptive instruction: Progress at own pace Receive individualized practice and instruction on an as-needed basis

Headsprout Reading Comprehension

Adaptive program that teaches learners how to comprehend text in 50 online lessons Strategy based: teaches strategies that ensure that students understand what the question is asking and how to find or infer the answer for literal, inferential, main idea, and derived meaning questions

Headsprout Reading Comprehension

Helps students to transfer those strategies across a variety of passages (narrative, expository, poetic) and subject areas Includes explicit vocabulary instruction and continued practice with learned vocabulary Designed for learners in grades 3-5, but beneficial to any learner who is beginning or struggling with reading comprehension

Jim Ferranti Program Specialist San Bernardino City Unified School District

Supporting Reading Comprehension in the Mild/Moderate K-6 population

Programs and Techniques

Problem: Our mild/moderate K-6 students were working on reading fluency but not reading comprehension. Most of these students showed little or no comprehension in our assessments.

Our first goal was to find strategies and techniques to develop Reading Comprehension. Solution: We employed Dr. John Schacter, a national expert on developing reading comprehension, to present 2 workshops over a 6 month period on procedures to increase reading comprehension.

Results: Many of our teachers who attended the workshop(s) were able to utilize the ideas to further develop reading comprehension across all subject matter. Next: Is there a program available for our mild/moderate students to develop reading comprehension strategies in an on going manner? What program would allow for various learning rates as well as provide ongoing engagement in applying reading comprehension strategies?

Headsprout was recommended by one of our school sites that was currently using it. After examining the program we decided that it fit the needs of our student population. Using ARRA funding we purchased licenses in Reading Comprehension.

Implementation: How to roll it out to all our teachers? I introduced the program at our next staff meeting, going over the core of the program, then directing our teachers to the website to experience it first hand.

Individual meetings: I met with each teacher that was going to use Headsprout Reading Comprehension and we did the following: 1. Selected the eligible students based on AIMSweb fluency. 2. Determined comprehension level based on maze scores, teacher report, and portfolio review. 3. Had teacher read User Guide and then answer any questions before enrolling students.

Teachers monitor students progress on each episode. As account administrator I also monitored students as to progress concerns.

What our teachers are saying: 1. Headsprout has provided the continual support, adaptive instruction, and reinforcement that our students need to master reading comprehension skills. 2. Students are able to read a variety of text, narrative, expository, etc. and subject areas while demonstrating comprehension. 3. Students are transferring reading strategies to content in language arts, science, and social studies.

What our teachers are saying: 4. Students are finding the program appealing and engaging. They enjoy doing each episode and feel successful as they move through the program. 5. Students are holding on to the gains over the period of the school year.

Results we are seeing: 1. An increase in Reading Comprehension across all content area. 2. An increase in state testing scores in language arts.

Bridging the Learning Gap


Reading Comprehension success stories from the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Rachel R. Pioch Programs Trainer/Consultant

What was the gap?

Students who have their phonics down, but are still finding difficulty in reading. Specifically second and third grade students at K-Beach Elementary School, Soldotna, AK.

Heres What Happened

Students used Headsprout Reading Comprehension as an intervention o Four sessions per week o Thirty minutes per session

Heres What Happened

Students were tested prior to and after using Headsprout Reading Comprehension with the Scholastic Reading Inventory, SRI. The students SRI scores skyrocketed. It was amazing! We saw so much improvement. -Cheryl R. Interventionist teacher

Staff Cite Reasons For Success

Students must master the concepts in one episode before continuing on. Even very tech savvy students cannot fake it. This is especially evident when students have to show the answer inside a reading passage.

Whats Happening Now?

Teachers started off this year at K-Beach Elementary wanting to look at student scores and put the students in Headsprout Reading Comprehension right away.

Other Schools Cite Successes

The Mostly About lessons have helped our students incredibly. Cindy S., Soldotna Elementary.

Other Schools Cite Successes

It really helps increase students vocabulary and fluency. Betsy V., Fireweed Academy.

Other Schools Cite Successes

It is super motivating for students. Kids love it. Robyn W., West Homer Elementary Students earn coins for getting the answer correct the first time. They can then use the coins to view fun cartoons.

Q&A

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