May 2007 — Features
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Reading First :: Reading First...Technology Second?
What's happening at Brewster Elementary illustrates the role technology can play in Reading First. The question is, What role is technology playing in Reading First to realize the program's objectives, which are, direct from its website: "to select, implement, and provide professional development for teachers using scientifically based reading programs, and to ensure accountability through ongoing, valid, and reliable screening, diagnostic, and classroom- based assessment"?
Eighty percent of students who go through one elementary school's technology-supported literacy program end up passing the state reading assessment-these are students who were previously failing.
Unfortunately, in too many instances, not as prominent as the role it should be playing. For example, Kathleen Doyle, Reading First regional coordinator at South Cook Intermediate Service Center 4, says she knows of no Reading First funds in her six South Chicago districts that have been allotted to technology. Doyle says the Illinois State Board of Education "wants kids to be able to read books first." In California, Jeff Cohen of the state's Reading/Language Arts Leadership Office says his office doesn't track that kind of information, but that "each district will be somewhat unique."
Larry Berger, CEO of Wireless Generation, which makes wireless assessment tools that are used by many Reading First schools, says a lot of his customers don't even consider their handheld products to be technological devices. "Sometimes," he marvels, "a technology person isn't even in the decision tree"-which is astonishing considering the reading improvements that technology has shown to generate. Wherever it is being applied, whether through professional development, student assessment, or individual instruction, technological tools are helping Reading First live up to its goals.
Professional Development
Professional development for Reading First teachers is undertaken on a large scale in the US heartland. Since Reading First can't meet the demand for training all qualified elementary and middle school teachers, it allows e-Learning for Educators to use a Ready to Teach grant to do it. The program involves public television stations and state departments of education in nine states, and offers internet-based courses for K-12 teachers. One of those states is Missouri, whose course offerings for summer 2007 include:
- Helping Struggling Readers Improve Comprehension
- Improving Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
- Reading First: Supporting Early Reading Instruction With Technology
- Supporting Literacy Development in the Lower Elementary Classroom
Christie Terry is the program coordinator for e-Learning for Educators: Missouri. Terry says that "teachers who support each other are much more likely to successfully complete the course," which is why the program encourages schools to organize teachers to receive the coursework. Each course costs $125, with an additional $100 per credit-hour for graduate credit from any of three Missouri universities: the University of Missouri- Kansas City, the University of Missouri- St. Louis, or Missouri State University. A five-week course is worth one credit-hour, and a seven-week course is worth two.
