Readability vs Reading Ability

Carolyn Garner

Funded through the U.S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program

Agenda

Understand Readability Beacon Learning Center Become Aware of Strategies for Increasing Reading Ability Explore Resources for Reading Strategy Implementation 2

What is Readability?

Merriam Webster – able to be read easily Beacon Learning Center 3

Science Voyage (Glenco), Grade 6 Chapter 9 – Resources

Do you know that you use resources 24 hours a day? Even when you are asleep, resources are used to light streetlights and heat your home. Resources also were used to make your pajamas, your sheets, and the bed you sleep in. Where do these resources come from? Look no farther than the nearest farm or forest for the resources that provide you with countless products. Where do we get the resources to meet our energy needs? Coal, oil, and natural gas provide much of our energy, but we also harness energy from wind, water, and the sun. In fact, the greatest source of energy on Earth is the sun.

Flesch-Kincaid – 5.9

4 Beacon Learning Center

Does your day start like this? You wake up to the BEEP-BEEP of the alarm clock. You switch on the light and stumble toward the bathroom. You take a hot shower, then head back to your bedroom to dress. You flip on the radio to hear the weather report so you know what to wear. Your day has hardly begun and already you’ve used electricity at least four times. Have you ever wondered where your electricity comes from?

Flesch-Kincaid – 4.3

Beacon Learning Center 5

In the United States, electrical power plants are the main sources of energy for homes and factories. Energy is the ability to change things, such as the temperature, speed, or direction of an object. When energy is used to change things, energy itself often changes from one form to another. Wood, for instance, contains chemical energy. As wood is burned, its chemical energy is changed into heat and light energy. Most power plants produce electricity by burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are energy resources formed from the decaying remains of ancient plants and animals. Coal, oil, and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels. Let’s take a closer look at how these important energy resources are formed.

Flesch-Kincaid – 8.9

6 Beacon Learning Center

The entire section of Resources has 13 passages.

Below 4.3

5.9

5.9

Readability On 6.4

7.0

7.4

8.1

8.1

8.9

Above 9.3

9.9

10.7

11.5

7 Beacon Learning Center

The best solution for air pollution is prevention. Reducing the number of pollutants released into the air is easier to do than cleaning up the pollutants already in the air. As shown in Figure 9-3, new cars are made today that release fewer harmful gases and use less fuel than older models. Governments around the world also are working together to find ways to reduce the amount of air pollutants that are released into the atmosphere by factories.

Flesch-Kincaid – 10.7

Beacon Learning Center 8

The best solution for air _____ is prevention. _____ the number of _____ released into the air is easier to do than cleaning up the _____ already in the air. New cars are made today that _____ fewer _____ gases and use less fuel than older models. _____ around the world are working _____ to find ways to _____ the amount of air _____ that are _____ into the _____ by _____.

Flesch-Kincaid – 5.9

Beacon Learning Center 9

All too frequently, students are left to their own devices to figure out what the text means.

Surely, if they read it again, they will understand. Right?

10 Beacon Learning Center

Traditional Content Area Reading Pearson and Gallagher, U of Illinois • 65% - round robin with low level questions interspersed • 10% - students read on their own, teacher gives a dialogue focused on what the teacher views as important • 10% - students read on their own, then the teacher paraphrases Beacon Learning Center 11

Differentiate Instruction • Use varied reading strategies in the classroom enhances comprehension.

Develop Metacognition • Teach reading strategies to students assists them in becoming independent readers.

Learn to read leads to read to learn.

12 Beacon Learning Center

Beacon Learning Center For maximum benefit, reading strategies must be implemented: • Before reading • During reading • After reading 13

Beacon Learning Center

Benefits of Before Reading Strategies

• Activate prior knowledge • Give purpose • Teach vocabulary, phonics, and phonemic awareness 14

Benefits of During Reading Strategies

Beacon Learning Center • Review vocabulary • Bridge between word recognition and comprehension (fluency) • Teach comprehension skills • Develop higher order thinking skills 15

Beacon Learning Center

Benefits of After Reading Strategies

• Review vocabulary • Check comprehension 16

Beacon Learning Center Are you thinking . . .

Reading strategies???? How can I learn more?

17

Just Read Now www.justreadnow.com

This site offers teachers a variety of reading strategies that include models and examples. Beacon Learning Center 18

Beacon Learning Center

Just Read Now

19

Beacon’s Online Courses

http://courses.beaconlearningcenter.com/

Beacon offers online courses for professional develop. • Before reading strategies • During reading strategies • After reading strategies Beacon Learning Center 20

Beacon Online Courses

Beacon Learning Center 21

Beacon’s Professional Development Workshops

Face-to-face 4 day workshop

Mind Your Business: Differentiate Reading Instruction

Contact Beacon Learning Center for information on scheduling a workshop.

Beacon Learning Center 22

Beacon Learning Center www.beaconlearningcenter.com

The mission of Beacon Learning Center is to provide educators throughout the nation with standards-based resources and professional development, thus enabling them to identify, design, and implement quality education. Beacon Learning Center 23

Funding Source

•

2000-2005

Technology Innovation Challenge Grant

U.S. Department of Education

•

1998-99

Goals 2000 •

1997-2000

Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Beacon Learning Center 24

Beacon Learning Center’s Goal: Improve Student Achievement

Quality Curriculum Resources for Student & Teacher Use Innovative Staff Development to Encourage Change Beacon Learning Center 25

Remember

Teaching students reading strategies helps to bridge the gap between text readability and student’s reading ability.

Beacon Learning Center 26

Beacon Learning Center

Questions?

But first . . . Door prizes!

27

Readability vs Reading Ability

Funded through the U.S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program

Additional Handouts and/or Copy of the PowerPoint

http://www.beaconlc.org/beaconstaff/ presentations.htm.

Beacon Learning Center 29