Sally Shaywitz

Click on What’s New at top of site. Under new articles click on: Research-validated reading programs. A review of issues related to “reading disability” and summary of some current reading programs with links to their supportive research. It is written by Kathleen Ross-Kidder, Ph.D. is the Director of LD OnLine. I think this article will be what you want.

Helen

Helen gave you a good link…here is another which lists a few more:

http://www.schwablearning.org/Articles.asp?r=318&g=2&d=5

Janis

The name on the box or the book cover is not as important as what you *do* with it in the classroom. I have seen good teachers work with no materials at all, and bad teachers make a botch out of thousands of dollars’ worth.

Go to the NIH/NIHCD Teaching Reading study — available on this site under LD In Depth, or on ERIC (Education Research site) — and read the first part where the main characteristics of an effective reading program are clearly described.

I think researches have been way too vague about what works. I think specific programs, in the hands of well trained teachers, should be evaluated for effectiveness. I went to a talk by J. Torgeson and his research showed both an embedded phonic and a straight phonics program. Both were successful wheen implemented by experienced teachers on an intensive and regular schedule. Just as the medical community has accepted treatments for specific illnesses, so a child who can’t read should have specific treatment perscribed and taught by a well trained teacher using an intensive and consistant schedule.

I agree with you. I have seen some teachers who have programs that they could to use but they don’t have the training that goes with them, or they have the training but they don’t see the importance and choose to go back to the old way of doing things…

To brag, she did mention Great Leaps by name for fluency-building.

Ken,

I just got the book yesterday and the first thing I did was go to the index to see what programs she mentioned! And yes, she did include Great Leaps! Good for you!

Janis

I need to take a look at Great Leaps, Ken. Where can I do that? (website??…) thanks.

http://www.greatleaps.com/

I noticed that you have a math book. What does it cover? Or where on the website does it tell the skills it covers?

Michelle

There was an interesting article in the “Wall Street Journal,” last week about the use of “pathways” in medicine.

The practice involves setting up specific protocals or “pathways” to address specific types of conditions. These “pathways” are developed by a team of doctors and nurses and are based on the most recent scientific evidence. These pathways are a road map for medical professionals to follow with room for changes as the situation varies. The thinking is that in medicine often the best practices are not followed because it is close to impossible for any one doctor to keep track of the latest in medical research for every disease.

I think it would be great if someone could develop “pathways” in education. There is no reason that road maps could not be developed to help guide teachers in the appropriate, scientifically proven course of action.
There is alot of rhetoric about scientifically proven techniques but there needs to be some serious specifics set forth otherwise it is just more blah blah blah.