Posted on 08/18/2003 12:14:43 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Jack Fletcher, professor of developmental pediatrics at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, said that reading and comprehension skills are essential for students to learn other subjects. "Years back, schools stopped emphasizing reading as much," Fletcher said, "and now we're realizing that if children are not reading by grade level in third grade, they remain behind even in high school."
Melanie Pritchett, TEA associate commissioner for statewide initiatives, agreed that reading may not have been emphasized enough to current high schoolers. Recent test scores prove that. "Absolutely, a large part of the problem with high schools is reading comprehension," she said. "Part of it is also computational," referring to math and science scores, "but they can't read it and understand it enough to solve it."
For Brianne's parents, the decision to keep the 8-year-old in second grade this year was difficult but necessary. She struggled with reading last school year, and despite extra study and help from tutors, she still couldn't comprehend what she read.
District educators labeled Brianne a "struggling reader," which frustrated and depressed her, her parents said.
"We decided to retain her so her maturity level could catch up," her father said. "She's one of the youngest in her class now, so she won't be that far behind."
Her parents also said she had a better opportunity to grasp reading and comprehension skills if she stayed another year, instead of being thrust into the third grade, where a state test determines whether poor readers are held back.
Last year's third-graders were the first to fall under a new state rule that retains poor readers and ends social promotion. Statewide, about 96 percent of third-graders passed the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
That leaves about 12,000 Texas children who are retaking the third grade this year.
In the Houston Independent School District, about 95.2 percent of 16,697 third-graders passed TAKS. HISD officials said they are still determining how many students have been held back. According to district numbers, 803 students failed the test in the three times they had to take it.
Those parents, however, can appeal to the district to promote their child. If promoted, those students would be considered fourth-graders but would receive more reading instruction.
Parents have their reasons not to retain a child. Most prevalent is the social stigma attached to "failing a grade," educators and researchers say, and parents do not want their child to be embarrassed.
"Some parents feel the social pressure of wanting their child moving on with their friends and not have their child's self-esteem hurt by feeling less smart," said Rhonda Posten, a 20-year teaching veteran.
Posten, a Galena Park ISD instruction specialist for language arts, said the benefits of retention may outweigh the stigma.
"They become more mature and successful in their skills," she said.
A University of Houston professor who has studied retention said his research shows students who repeat a year make significant gains in test scores.
"Third-graders who were retained made monumental gains" on state tests, up to 20 points higher than what they had scored the year before, said UH sociologist Gary Dworkin.
Dworkin, who conducted research for the Texas Education Agency, said his findings showed that, statewide, white males who live in poverty were the most likely to be held back. Boys were more likely to repeat a grade than girls, as were minorities and students who live in poverty.
Dworkin also said retaining students used to mean sending them back through the same class and same failed curriculum. Now, state accountability tests that rate schools and districts on how well their students achieve provide strong incentives for remedial programs.
The third-grade reading test is one of several components of TAKS, the state-mandated accountability test.
Third-grade reading is especially crucial, researchers and educators say, because students who cannot comprehend what they are reading by third grade have a greater chance of falling further behind as they go along.
"Before third grade, children are learning how to read," Posten said. "The third grade is a transitional year where they begin to read to learn."
Jack Fletcher, professor of developmental pediatrics at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, said that reading and comprehension skills are essential for students to learn other subjects.
"Years back, schools stopped emphasizing reading as much," Fletcher said, "and now we're realizing that if children are not reading by grade level in third grade, they remain behind even in high school."
Melanie Pritchett, TEA associate commissioner for statewide initiatives, agreed that reading may not have been emphasized enough to current high schoolers. Recent test scores prove that.
"Absolutely, a large part of the problem with high schools is reading comprehension," she said. "Part of it is also computational," referring to math and science scores, "but they can't read it and understand it enough to solve it."
Trying to break that cycle, Fletcher is part of a research team that used six Houston elementary schools as part of a study on how to best tailor reading instruction to promote early literacy.
The study, which Fletcher said is about to be published, concluded that intervention, whether in groups or one-on-one, is needed to help students who are likely to fail. At-risk students need more than the enhanced classroom instruction they may typically get.
More than 23,000 HISD kindergartners and first- and second-graders were identified last year as being "at-risk for reading difficulties," based on diagnostic tests.
English readers take the Texas Primary Reading Inventory and Spanish readers take the Tejas LEE Reading Inventory.
They qualify for enrollment in "reading intervention" programs. "Struggling readers" are required by state law to receive additional help besides redoing the third grade as their intervention, said HISD Chief Academic Officer Bob Stockwell.
Much of the type of help a child gets depends on how well parents understand what children are going through at school and how much support they ask for from their schools, said Ana Cummings, who educates parents at The Metropolitan Organization, a community and church coalition.
One of those struggling readers, Martin, twice took the third-grade reading test last year before passing.
A supportive extended family, including his grandmother, took him to early tutoring before school and picked him up late when he finished after-school tutoring. His mom helped the 9-year-old at home with study workbooks given by the elementary school teacher.
Martin begins the fourth grade this week.
"It took a lot of extra work from him, our family and the school, but in his last test, the teacher said he was terrific," his grandmother said.
Consequences are a kick in the butt. Self-esteem comes from personal success, not from denying a school's failure to teach.
My second Son (15 years later and 5 years old in 2003) goes to a private school and can read and write and he starts kindergarden in two weeks.
The moral is public ed sucks and alot of teachers suck !
Oops. Well, you didn't repeat your mistake. Too many parents operate under the assumption schools today are like schools they attended. Not so.
And false self-esteem isn't going to help them get through life. Twisting the truth at the altar of public school accountability cripples them for life.
The study, which Fletcher said is about to be published, concluded that intervention, whether in groups or one-on-one, is needed to help students who are likely to fail. At-risk students need more than the enhanced classroom instruction they may typically get.?
Can you say "DUH!!!"
The problem is so many teachers cannot identify the "at-risk" students until they test them.
I guess it is like potty training, when they are ready they will learn.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.