Kansas Elementary Schools To Use Reading Software -- THE Journal

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Kansas Elementary Schools To Use Reading Software

By Tim Sohn
11/28/11

Two Kansas elementary schools are deploying software to help improve students' reading skills.

Specifically, the Diocese of Wichita Catholic Schools has selected Lexia Reading for its Blessed Sacrament and Holy Name elementary schools.

Web-based Lexia Reading provides reading activities, based on federal and Common Core State Standards, customized for each student. For teachers, it offers real-time reports on student progress and areas for improvement. The software then recommends student-specific lessons based on automatically generated reports.

Features of the reading software include:

An individually adjusted program for each student based on skill level;
Lexia's Assessment Without Testing technology, which provides data on skill gaps and a percentage chance of the student reaching his or her goal;
Strategies and lesson plans for teachers to help each student improve;
An iPhone app, which lets administrators and teachers check student performance via mobile device; and
Seven lessons for Smart and Promethean boards that focus on the most difficult reading skills.

"We were searching for a way to help our students be more successful in acquiring and advancing their reading skills," said Dan McAdam, director of staff services at Wichita Catholic Schools. "We believe that Lexia’s differentiated instructional approach will help us to maximize our ability to help all students acquire their foundational reading skills, and help our struggling students to close the achievement gap with their peers."

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in Wichita enrolls approximately 400 students in grades pre-K to eight, while Holy Name Catholic School in Coffeyville has approximately 80 students in grades pre-K to six.

For more information, visit lexialearning.com.

About the Author

Tim Sohn is a 10-year veteran of the news business, having served in capacities from reporter to editor-in-chief of a variety of publications including Web sites, daily and weekly newspapers, consumer and trade magazines, and wire services. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @editortim.

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