Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / March 12, 1992, edition 1 / Page 21
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First Graders Learning Basics In Reading Recovery Program BY DORI COSGROVE GURGANUS Some Brunswick County first grade students, those who haven't progressed in reading as far as their classmates, are getting a extra push this year. The Reading Recovery Program, geared for first graders ctrid offered at Union Primary, Southpon Ele mentary and Lincoln Primary this year for the first time, is an intensive plan to rc-tcach kids who can learn to read, but simply haven't. "It's a wonderful program," savs Kim Royal, one of the teachcrs at Union Primary who works with Reading Recovery. She and her partner, Foy Crary, share responsibilities between teach ing a regular first grade class, and splitting the day in half for Reading Recovery sessions. Children who qualify for the pro gram must meet criteria for Reading Recovery, mainly by showing a ca pacity for learning, but not having been given an "extra push to keep up with their peers," said Ms. Crary. If a child is found to be learning disabled, he or she is sent to a differ ent program. "The kids we help arc beginning readers who were high risk and might not gel through the first grade," says Ms. Royal. "There's nothing wrong with them, most of them just haven't come from an en vironment conducive to reading." Often these traits arc noticed in kindergarten, she says, when tcach crs see that a child has trouble retelling a story or shows a lack of familiarity with books. Students who have been retained from kindergarten or first grade also do not qualify. "Our students all have the ability and potential to learn and be at least average or better than average read ers," says Ms. Crary. Testing in the fall of a child's first grade year identifies them as not having the same literacy level as other first graders. All first grade teachers make a list of their sludcnLs from most skilled to least skilled according to the reading " There's nothing wrong with them. mo st of them just haven't come from an environment conducive to reading " ? Kim Royal Reading Recovery teacher tesi, ant) give the Reading Recovery teachers the names on the bottom half of the list. After more testing, a small num tx;r of students arc selected for Reading Recovery, with the permis sion of their parents. Currently eight students at each elementary sclux>l participate in the sessions, and each school is equipped with two special ly-trained Reading Recovery in structors. The students arc scheduled for 75 classes of intensive, onc-on-onc reading assistance wiih those leath ers for 30 minutes each day. The classes will probably Like from 15 weeks to the entire school year, Ms. Crary and Ms. Royal point out, taking into consideration ill nesses, vacations and school events. The system being practiced in Brunswick County is a split day for the two teachers. For example, Ms. Crary may have the regular first grade class for the morning until lunchtime. During that time, Ms. Royal takes her four Reading Recovery students, one by one, out of that class for 30 minutes to a qui et, secluded classroom down the hall. In the afternoon, Ms. Royal teach es the regular first grade class while Ms. Crary lakes the other four Read ing Recovery students for four, indi vidual 30-minute sessions. These students miss 30 minutes of class, bui gain more literacy skills in return. 'The students we've taught have not regressed later, and dial's a good sign," says Ms. Crary. Reading Recovery was first intro duced in the United Suites in the 1970s by a child psychologist. Dr. Marie Clay of New Zealand, with her book. The Early Detection of Rending Difficulties. A pilot pro gram was tested at Ohio State University in the early 1980s and was found to be successful. Ms. Crary heard of the program while attending Georgia Slate Uni versity in the late 1970s and remem bers wondering what it entailed. "Basically Or. Clay did research on bad reading habits and good reading habits and figured we should teach gixxl reading habits to students who needed help." she says, summing up the theory behind the work. It's not how to read, but how to learn to read, both Union Primary teachers agree. "Hopefully they'll get it and not become statistics," adds Ms. Crary. Brunswick County is one of sev eral school systems piloting the pro gram in North Carolina through Dr. Noel Jones, tcachcr-lcadcr-traincr from UNC-Wilmington's Curricular Studies program. All six Brunswick County teach ers have attended training at UNC W and report to Jan Toomes, their teacher- leader for the program. The training earns crcdiLs toward a mas ter's degree in early childhood edu cation. "It's very structured," Ms. Crary says of the methodology used by Reading Recovery teachers. Minute by minute, the teacher must cover a different letter or word, and write down exactly how the student re sponds. Instructors are evaluated from time to time by their teacher-leader to make sure they follow the pro gram in detail ? from sitting in the correct way in relation to the child to documenting the progress each child makes each day. Students can place out of the pro gram, proving that they have caught up with their peers, or can be recom mended by their instructor for grad uation. Motivation can play an important role in a child's success as well, both teachers agree. STAFF PHOTO BY OORI C GURGANUS WORKING INTENTLY WITH students on a one-to-one basis, Foy Crary (pictured above with a stu dent) and Kim Royal are helping first graders with basic reading skills. "Parents make the difference," explains Ms. Crary, "Some children will succeed in spite of lack of sup port from their family, but they must be internally motivated." Many students have parents who work long hours or who do not stress the importance of reading to their children. "They're not necessarily from de prived homes, but they haven't been encouraged to read," she adds. Invitations have been sent out asking parents to visit and watch their child as they show off new reading skills, but, Ms. Crary says, no parents have accepted the offer. Students are also allowed to take their special textbooks home to share their skills w ith their parents. And even though Ms. Royal and Ms. Crary will help a handful of firsl graders this academic year, they feel that they could be doing more. "You reach so few who have a need and that's frustrating," says Ms. Crary, "I'd like to reach every child that needs it" Out of the total 280 first graders at Union Primary, they estimate, 50 to 60 children are at risk of not prac ticing good reading habits and of never learning how to fully compre hend what they read. Of that group, they predict that they will actually help 10 to 12 stu dents. "Ideally we'd have five Reading Recovery teachers to adequately staff this program," Ms. Crary says "It ought to be fully implemented to help kids who need an extra push." Next year, Ms. Royal and Ms. Crary hope to set up a plan that they feel would work better by helping more children. Their plans include adding more teachers and not requir ing those teachers to also teach a regular class. That method would enable the teachers to help more students, not just the eight students at the very bottom of the literacy skills list. However, available funding through the school system remains to be seen, and tcachers like Ms. Royal and Ms. Crary must wait to see how far Reading Recovery can stretch itself next year. THE KID'S PAGE Written by students of Union Primary School for everyone to enjoy! George Washington George Washington was born on the shores of the Potomac River. Lyndsey D. He was known as the father of his country. Victoria Shadid George Washington was known not to tell a lie. Anna Gibbons George Washington was our first president. Nicole White Washington rode the fields in a snowstorm, he caught a severe cold and died Dec. 14, 1799. Harriet Tubman Harriet tubman (a slave) was born about 1820. Her grandparents on both sides were slaves, who had been brought to America from Africa. Sometime after 1725, she helped at least three hundred slaves escape to freedom. Most of them were members of her own family. She died on March 10, 1913. Renata Hanklns My Car My car is an oil tanker. It goes to gas stations across North Carolina. His name is Jonathan. He is happy. Josh Sands My car is wild strawberry, that's the color. It is a pretty ear. My dad takes me to school in it. It is fun to ride In it. Brandy Davis ~\ ? Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin fought for his rights, and he fought for other peoples rights too. And he said, "He wouldn't stop." Shannon Reese Martin Luther King was an American civil rights leader. Dr. Martin Luther King won the Nobel Peace Prize. Sarah Spaycl * J Abraham Lincoln Did you know that Abe Lincoln learned how to1 do math on a fire shovel? He added and subtracted. Then he cleaned the shovel off and started all over again. Bert Parker He was known as Honest Abe. Heather Culler Abraham Lincoln was our 1 6th president of the United States. Shlquanda Stokes Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. Eric Hayes Sean Goforth Ice Hockey Ice hockey, Slap puck in goal Ice warrior skating, fight for puck. Exciting, rough, hard-hitting, cold, fast Face-off Adam Vltale I love my mother She let's me do stuff sometimes. She cares about me. Khandon Frlnk Special thanks to our sponsors: Atlantic Telephone Membership Corporation. A.L. Morrison Construction ro., Inc.. The Natural Nail. Simmons Rental Center, Bradsher's, Inc., Shallotte Body Shop, For Kids Only, Fort Surveying, Intracoastal Services, Inc., Dr. & Mrs. C.J. Moshoures. Robinson 's Variety. Dr. & Mrs. L.H. Cheek. Village Pines Properties. Ramos and Lewis, Dr. & Mrs. T. P. Gibble, Dr. & Mrs. D. Hllz, Security Savings & Loan. Dr. & Mrs. E.J. Crary, NCNB, Burger King. Coble-Ward-Smith Funeral Service, Shallotte Cleaners, Williamson Realty, Inc., Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation.
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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March 12, 1992, edition 1
21
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