| Raise Your School's Reading Achievement: Practical Tips for Principals
Raise Your School's Reading Achievement:
Practical Tips for Principals
- The Foundation for Reading Success
Teach phonemic awareness and systematic, explicit phonics in kindergarten
and first grade. Obtain the Summer, 1995 issue of American Educator,
"Learning to Read: Schooling's First Mission" as well as the Spring/Summer,
1998 issue: "The Unique Power of Reading and How to Unleash It". Call the
American Federation of Teachers at 202-879-4420 or fax your request to
202-879-4534. These are outstanding issues and should be read by every
teacher and principal in this country!
- Data Driven and Research-Based
Become data-driven and research-based in determining how best to serve the
needs of Target Students (those at risk of reading failure). Choose
programs, teaching methodologies, and textbooks that are based on the
current research in reading instruction.
- A Visible Presence
Observe reading instruction at some grade level every single day of the
school year. There is no substitute for knowing what is going on in the
classroom. You should be aware of the students who are having difficulties.
You should regularly affirm those teachers who are effective and regularly
counsel with those who are having difficulties. Your mere presence in the
classroom even if you do or say nothing will affect achievement in a
positive way.
- Kindergarten Checkout
Get kids in the reading habit on the first day they enroll in your school.
Every kindergarten student should have the opportunity to check out a
different book from the school library every day and take it home to be
read aloud. Children can actually "train" their parents to read aloud to
them every evening if the teacher will encourage and keep track of each
child's reading.
- Meaning: The Essence of Reading
Inservice your entire faculty on a core group of comprehension strategies
and then teach them to every student across every subject matter and every
grade levels. Use Jerry Johns' great book on reading strategies to help
you: Johns, Jerry and Lenski, Susan Davis. Improving Reading: A Handbook of
Strategies. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall-Hunt Publishing Company. 800-228-0810.
- Home/School Connection Calls
Ask each classroom teacher to make two monthly Home/School Connection
Telephone calls to the parents of five identified Target Students (those at
risk of reading failure or those in the bottom quartile on standardized
tests). You will be amazed at how motivated both students and parents will
become with a little positive attention from the teacher. Ask teachers to
submit a communication log to you each month detailing the results of the
conversations.
- Principal's Postcard Club
Encourage summer reading by forming the Principal's Postcard Club. Students
are required to read 20 books over the summer and send a postcard to the
principal giving a brief statement about the book. All the member of the
club are treated to lunch at local restaurant when school resumes.
- Battle of the Books
I used this program when I was a principal. The program was coordinated by
the children's librarian at our local public library. She and her staff
selected 40 books each year. Teams of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students were
formed (5 students each). Each team member was responsible for reading 8 of
the books. The program began in the fall to permit time for students to
read the books and then in-school battles were held to determine the
all-school winner. An all-city battle was held at the public library and
winners received medals. We required every student to participate on a team
and held mock battles in our library after school for those who wanted to
practice. Students made up the questions to ask each other which really
helped improve reading comprehension.
- Reading Roundtable
Hold a reading roundtable instead of a regular faculty meeting. Most
faculty meetings are a boring waste of time anyhow. Put all of the
announcements into memo form and use your valuable time to discuss reading
instruction. Ask someone to demonstrate a strategy they've found successful
in their classroom. Invite a group of students to talk about their
experiences learning to read. Ask everyone to talk about a book they've
been reading recently (see if that doesn't shake up some teachers).
- Get Help for Students Who Need It
Develop a school assessment/referral process that is standardized,
streamlined, and provides meaningful, intensive interventions as early as
possible. Don't wait until it's too late.
- Library Access
Open your school library in the evenings/summers for supervised reading and
homework help. Offer computer classes to parents and/or students.
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