From: "Suzanne Heath" To: Subject: Re: New Addition to wrightslaw.com guestbook Date: Friday, August 26, 2005 7:49 PM Dear Kevin, Are you saying that these children cannot read because you lack materials and they have poor attitudes? Do you really believe this? Materials are not going to teach these children to read. They need instruction from a trained teacher using a research based method of teaching reading. If you are not this person, then it is up to you to make sure that they get this instruction from someone who is trained to teach reading. The term 'essential components of reading instruction' means explicit and systematic instruction in- (A) phonemic awareness; (B) phonics; (C) vocabulary development; (D) reading fluency, including oral reading skills; and (E) reading comprehension strategies. (20 U.S.C.§ 6368 (3)) Children who do not respond to intervention are able to be served under IDEA. These children have obviously not responded to intervention for going on 6 years now. The national standard calls for a diagnostic reading assessment to be done as soon as it is apparent that a child is falling behind. Have diagnostic reading assessments been done for each of these children? The term 'diagnostic reading assessment' means an assessment that is- (i) valid, reliable, and based on scientifically based reading research; and (ii) used for the purpose of- (I) identifying a child's specific areas of strengths and weaknesses so that the child has learned to read by the end of grade 3; (II) determining any difficulties that a child may have in learning to read and the potential cause of such difficulties; and (III) helping to determine possible reading intervention strategies and related special needs. (20 U.S.C.§ 6613 (7)(C)) The diagnostic reading assessment will provide information about their particular reading weaknesses that must be addressed. According to this http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=410171000001&ID=410171000001 your middle school has a Title I reading program.This should be research based and should be tied into the special education program. If the children you are working with are in the Title I program then there is a Title I Plan in the district office that tells what research based diagnostic assessments will be used. There may be other information in that plan that will help you get reading instruction for these children. If you want to be able to help the next children who are assigned to you, you can get training at these locations http://www.nhida.org/teachertraining.htm. Sue Heath > Kevin: > > I am forwarding your questions to our reading expert, Sue Heath. She may > be able to offer some suggestions or help. > > Pam Wright > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kevin" > To: > Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 3:43 PM > Subject: New Addition to wrightslaw.com guestbook > >> New Addition to wrightslaw.com guestbook >> >> Name: Kevin >> E-mail: klee@baker.k12.or.us >> Found: adoption newsletter >> Location: Baker City, Oregon, US >> >> Comment: >> I'm going to be working with middle school students this year, teaching >> reading to kids who didn't reach benchmark. They range from about 3rd to >> low 6th grade independent reading level. I'm not used to this age group. >> Wonder if anyone can suggest materials that might be useful with >> struggling/reluctant readers who for the most part don't want to be in >> school and certainly don't want to read. Thanks.