Summer 2004 Newsletter
Volume 5, Issue 2
Inside This Issue
- Oregon Department of Corrections
- Frequently Asked Questions: Phonics and Much More!
- Why should you attend a Discover Intensive Phonics Workshop?
- HEC Advisory Council Spotlight: Marion Deware and Linda Conway
- Calling all Trainers!
- A New Way to Communicate
- Making a Difference: North Gem Elementary experiences the joy of success
- New Two-Day Workshop
- We are presenting at the following conferences:
Oregon Department of Corrections
After exploring a variety of phonics-based programs for over two years, the State of Oregon Department of Corrections recently selected the HEC Reading Horizons, Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself program to be implemented across the state's adult corrections system.
Oregon Department of Corrections Literacy Specialist Linnell Rantapaa relates how the state commission narrowed its choice to Reading Horizons. "We wanted a phonics program that had not only a consistent and sequential presentation of skills, but could be delivered equilaterally across our entire corrections system. It also had to be economical, computer based, and tailored to an adult population."
Rantapaa, who has worked for Oregon's correction educational system since the early 90s, discovered the Reading Horizons program a few years ago while vacationing in Minnesota. "I visited an adult community center and witnessed this program in action. I realized that this particular educational software is ideal for a corrections environment because our constituents cannot use Internet resources, but, they need the individualized learning opportunities. We will use Reading Horizons, the phonics program, to supplement our direct instruction."
After being administered a reading assessment, students are assigned appropriate phonetic skill work. Linnell Rantapaa relates that going back to the roots of language, using a systematic, explicit phonics program, helps students reconstruct some basic precepts about the dynamics of language.
"Sometimes students' scores reveal a reading level of 8th grade, which does not sound like a remedial level. What we find, though, is that deeper reading problems are often masked by the construct of assessment tools, and though participants may be test-wise, their ability to cope with more complex text lags far behind what test scores indicate. Based on our research over the last two years, I believe that the HEC Reading Horizons system will go a long way in helping us close that gap!"
Frequently Asked Questions: Phonics and Much More!
It's true that Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself offers explicit, intensive phonics instruction. It's also true that the systematic structure of the course is so manageable, understandable and straight forward that it lends itself to being implemented with ease; but there are many other skills that can be emphasized while teaching Intensive Phonics.
Spelling: Good spelling, for example, comes as a natural byproduct of intensive phonics training, and spelling is intimately linked to reading. In spelling, sounds are linked to letters but they are also being encoded, literally put, into a code instead of merely being deciphered or decoded.
Vocabulary: Another important feature that should not be neglected when teaching Discover Intensive Phonics is vocabulary development. When using the direct instruction approach outlined in the course, a teacher has the opportunity to help students reflect on a word's precise spelling, pronunciation and meaning. Teachers need to be certain that each word is pronounced clearly and accurately, that the definition is discussed, and that the word is used (preferably by students) in sentences. Using Reverse Listening Cards, students have an opportunity first to practice the word in isolation, examining the internal structure of the word by applying their knowledge of the marking system. Next, they read the word in the context of the sentence written on the bottom of the card.
Fluency: Using Reverse Listening Cards, teachers help build fluency through guided reading by simply selecting a specific paragraph and having students decode individual words from within that reading segment. Afterwards, teachers can model for students, reading the paragraph aloud. Students then read the same paragraph aloud under the teachers guidance. Later that evening, the child can read the same selection at home to parents, and again, the following day, students can pair up and take turns reading to classmates.
Using Discover Intensive Phonics unique marking system first, helps students learn to decode and read the isolated ord accurately. Then, reading that same word in a sentence provides growth in fluency. Fluency forms the bridge between decoding and comprehension and students acquire that fluency word by word with repeated exposure.
Indeed, Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself offers excellent explicit, systematic phonics, and MUCH, MUCH MORE!
Linda L. Eversole
Certified Trainer
Why should you attend a Discover Intensive Phonics Workshop?
Many teachers have never been formally trained in teaching phonics; we feel all should have the opportunity. The Discover Intensive Phonics workshop provides teachers with the necessary skills to confidently teach phonics! This interactive workshop offers hands on experience as you work at the board, learn new activities and become familiar with all of the aspects of Discover Intensive Phonics. Please call us for more information about our one, two, and three day workshops.
HEC Advisory Council Spotlight: Marion Deware and Linda Conway
"When we got the HEC program it gave the student uninterrupted time ot learn the phonics and vocabulary"
We are coming to an end for our advisory council spotlights but will soon continue spotlighting other users of Discover Intensive Phonics for Yourself/Reading Horizons. It has been fun to spotlight each advisory council member. We do so to thank them for their hard work and service they render.
Marion Deware and Linda Conway of Tooele Adult Ed in Tooele, UT discuss their experience with Reading Horizons.
"We first heard a presentation when Barbara Bush was in town for the Literacy Conference at the Salt Palace. We heard the original presentation from the developer, Charlotte Lockhart. We liked the concept immediately. Later, we heard a presentation at the UAACCE conference with Len and Linda Eversole.
"Before we used HEC, we would help each student individually. This was a problem since we were teaching 8 people in the same room on different subjects at the same time. We would get interrupted about every 5 minutes which was a frustration for the student trying to learn phonics or the ESL student trying to get help learning phonics or vocabulary.
"When we got the HEC program it gave the student uninterrupted time to learn the phonics and vocabulary. For the student that completes the program there is always progress. We have had students jump significantly in their reading and then they can more easily earn credits for their high school diploma. Many students have jumped 3-4 grade levels in their reading."
Calling all Trainers!
As our demand for workshops increases, we are looking for people who are willing and able to conduct workshops on our behalf across the United States and Canada. If you are a certified trainer of the Discover Intensive Phonics method, or would like to become certified, please call HEC Reading Horizons.
A New Way to Communicate
I once read about a common syndrome experienced by teachers during their workday: the sense of isolation from peers. Such a report would seem odd to students who see teachers surrounded on all sides, all day, by enough classroom company to dismiss unwarranted lapses into temporary loneliness. (I bet 'ya missed me while I had the chicken pox, huh?)
While serving time "on-the-floor," I, too, recall feelings of disconnectedness. Daily, through a foot-thick, fireproof, cinderblock wall, I could overhear a colleague conjugating verbs on her chalkboard. The rhythmic tapping of her chalk against the board assured me, in code, that another living, breathing adult existed on the other side of the Twilight Zone. Also, between bus duty, lunch duty, playground duty, hall duty, and otherduties as assigned, I sometimes managed, in passing, to glean a few precious bytes of meaningful, professional information from other dutiful comrades.
About the only isle of refuge where teachers could find a collegial "coke and a smile" was the teachers' lounge. Here, in this misbegotten corner with the unisex bathroom, hand-me-down furnishings, sagging drapes, and capricious copy machine, information flowed that could make or break the curricular success of a program year. And, for those of us who, on that day, were cycled-off lunch duty, we communicated and bonded through rapid eye movements before the bell signaled back to class.
Though the Reading Horizons (RH) on-line Teacher's Lounge lacks some of these appealing amenities, it remains a place where professionals can communicate, share ideas, ask questions, and offer support as they implement new RH phonics programs or continue expanding and enhancing existing methods and materials. RH does not offer discounted cyber soft drinks, but we do offer Rewards Points toward future purchases and upgrades, and the best advice money cannot buy - hands-on tips from living, breathing teaching professionals. Phonics topics range from reading comprehension, involving parents, to games and writing workshops - you name it. And it comes from the experts - you!
On the Teacher's Lounge, you need not put your ear to the wall to decipher Ms. Chalkwrite's tap code. You can talk to real colleagues, on-line, today. Pose a question, create a scenario, give advice, and earn Reward Points by following this simple path:
www.readinghorizons.com > Teacher's Lounge (button) > Forum > Topic (pick one) > Reply to Topic > Message (write one) > Post New Reply (send one)!
When needed, let me, along with other RH field experts act as facilitators of resources, pointing you toward paths of information that could provide the solutions you seek.
If you have no question, share your topic related wisdoms and experiences or recommend good books, articles, or front running researchers.
Good Luck - I look forward to hearing (or should I say), seeing from you!
Evieanne Fogle
Reading Specialist
HEC Reading Horizons
Making a Difference: North Gem Elementary experiences the joy of success
Discover Intensive Phonics has "superseded our highest expectation", says LaRae Hatch. - First Grade Teacher and Head Teacher
The state of Idaho assesses reading scores by conducting the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) test three times each school year for students in grades K-3. Each school is required to meet certain reading achievement goals, set by the state, at each grade level. Recently, North Gem Elementary made such drastic improvements on the IRI that others questioned their outcomes. "How did your children score that high?" Mary Lou Pearson, Kindergarten teacher at North Gem, says, "We feel very strongly that we scored that high because of intensive phonics."
According to the North Gem IRI scores 92% of 3rd graders are reading at grade level and 85% of Kindergarten students are reading at grade level. Before North Gem started using Discover Intensive Phonics thestudents had trouble with reading levels that were extremely low. Sam Wadsworth, North Gem 3rd grade teacher, recalls, "Once we started this program that changed and changed very quickly. Within just a couple of years there was almost a hundred and eighty degree turnaround."
LaRae Hatch explains why Discover Intensive Phonics has been so successful, "One of the reasons for our success is we have every teacher committed to effectively teach the program as outlined. What a difference it makes to have children start out in Kindergarten with a good phonics background.
"Intensive Phonics is structured so that learning is systematic and natural. Having students writing at the board, all at the same time, gives the teacher immediate feedback. The sequence of teaching is wonderful, it makes sense to the students, and they retain what they have learned.
"Intensive Phonics not only improves reading scores but it has also had a major impact on our spelling and language art scores. Handwriting improves because the teacher is right there to recognize a problem and is able to immediately help the student make the necessary changes."
"I think the whole school is a success story. We have some of the highest reading scores in the state. It just didn't leave any gaps or holes in their learning and we were able to really manage each child's reading to the point where now all but one of my students are reading at or above reading level. Without a strong phonics program like Intensive Phonics you're not going to be very successful," Wadsworth explains. A large part of a child's desire to read is based upon their ability to read. Studies show that children who are taught Discover Intensive Phonics in Kindergarten and First grade have achieved consistently higher reading scores than other students."
Idaho State Reading Indicator Scores
| State Averages | Percent of students |
|---|---|
| GL3 (Reading at grade level) | 66.50 |
| GL2 (Reading near grade level) | 24.25 |
| GL1 (Reading below grade level) | 9.25 |
| North Gem Averages | Percent of students |
|---|---|
| GL3 (Reading at grade level) | 87.75 |
| GL2 (Reading near grade level) | 10.25 |
| GL1 (Reading below grade level) | 2.00 |
New Two-Day Workshop
We have developed a new, Two-day Workshop which incorporates more extensive instruction in the Discover Intensive Phonics approach and allows for more teacher interaction. Our goal is to further empower the workshop attendees with the skills and confidence necessary to effectively teach their students. This workshop is to be followed by Workshop II four months later.
Please Call HEC for more details and to schedule a workshop at your school. 800-333-0054
SPECIAL OFFER:
HEC will apply 10% of your new materials purchased towards the workshop of your choice when it is coordinated through our office. (ex. A $5,000 order will provide a $500 workshop credit.)
We are presenting at the following conferences:
IEE Conference
Eastmont Middle School
June 7-8, 2004
Sandy, Utah
