There are many examples of school districts that have returned to a
strong phonics-based reading program and achieved significant success.
In Houston, Texas, in the fall of 1991, eight inner-city elementary schools
switched to such a program after having tried a total whole language style
program for many years. The reading scores in these schools had dropped
to the lowest point they had ever been in twenty years of testing. During
the first year of an intensive phonics program, one district schools' scores
on a state reading test rose an astonishing 48 percentage points. Almost
98% of the third-grade students were reading at or above grade level, and
their scores are among the best in the city. All of the other schools showed
major improvements and today all eight schools are showing performance
levels that match more prosperous schools in the system.
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[end]
Chuck Beams
Fidonet - 1:2608/70
cbeams@future.dreamscape.com
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* UniQWK #5290* A narcissist is someone better looking than you are.
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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