SRA Correctuve reading results

Hey there! Some months ago I wrote about how much progress my 4th and 5th grade students with L.D. or ADHD had made with the SRA corrective reading approach in my resource room. I was asked to update you guys with the year end results. My 5th grade group consisted of 9 students; 4 of which completed the entire B1 and B2 level. Their average reading level assessed by the WJ-R indicated a 2.3 year gain. 5 students reached 6. grade level reading and placed out of resource classes altogether. 3 of the remaining 5th graders have significant Attention deficits or behavioral problems so their progress was much slower; however they did gain a year in reading growth. 1 child transferred in late in the year and only gained 6 months growth in 4 months of instruction.
This year I taught my 4th graders the B1 and B2 levels in one academic year. Out of 7 students there were an average 2.0 year gain in reading. Every student but one reached 4th grade level reading and that child reached 3.6.
I tried to correlate these individual testing results with STAR test scores. Although STAR test scores were constistent for my 5th graders, my 4th graders had very inconsistent test results. Many of my 4th graders tested higher in Dec. than in May which just dosn’t make sense to me. My system uses the Standford 9 for overall testing. These scores were not available at the end of the year. I suspect from observing the students during testing that my 5th graders will perform better than the 4th grade. Many of my 4th graders gave up on the test, where my 5th graders completed the entire test.
We learned some interesting things this year. Although reading scores improved, written expression scores did not and classroom performance was somewhat inconsistent. We learned that a child with L.D. who learns to read is; a child with L.D. who can read. Although reading is by far a huge advantage in the classroom, their lack of vocabulary, advanced comprehension skills and inferential comprehension continues to hinder them in subjects such as social studies and science. Next year I plan to resource my new 5th graders for part of the year using the SRA comprehension skills set. We’re blessed with wonderful regular ed. teachers who will follow with more systematic writing instruction in the regular classroom.
I know this message is very long, but I think that this progress is just too good to not share. Every single student in the program inproved measurably in reading. Compared to the years I taught before I began using this program when no one improved, this fact alone has frankly kept me in the special ed. field. In addition the attitude toward my students have changed completely over the last two years. I hear less blaming from the reg. ed. teachers now. Everyone involved with these kiddos KNOW they can learn and is much more willing to help them with classroom modifications. Special ed. in becoming more respected at my school and everyone from administration on down is more willing to buy the concept that that kids are disabled and not just lazy or stupid. Behavior problems have improved as well and this makes everything easier.
Of course the best thing is the improved attitude of the kids themselves. I get to hear the best things now in my job like ” I didn’t think I could ever read, but now I can”. That’s worth all the extra work. I hope this helps someone continue to search for programs that work. Although I like the SRA Corrective Reading there are many other program that get results. I would challenge every special ed. teacher that if you are not happy with the progress of your students; don’t give up, don’t stop and just decide that thier problems are too big to fix. I decided two years ago that every student I have WILL improve in ways we can measure. It was the best decision I ever made and a true blessing to my life. Please understand this is not to show that I’m super teacher I’m just hard headed and refuse to accept anything less than improvment for my students I think we have to be this way to teach the kids we do.
thanks Pam