Reading Mastery Program
by Bret Schroder
April 21, 2008
This week the Board of Education adopted our new reading program called Reading Mastery. We are excited to use this new program and feel it will help our students achieve to their fullest potential in reading. The program is meant to focus on students’ individual needs and reading levels to help all students excel in this area. We have also been using, and will continue to use, a companion program intended for those students who are reading significantly below grade level. This program, called Corrective Reading, is intended to help those readers gain strength and ability at an accelerated rate so they can catch up with their fellow classmates and enjoy the success and pride of being strong readers. Below is a brief description of each program and the grade levels they can be used in.
o Reading Mastery – This direct instruction program is our core program and will be used in grades Pre-school through five. It is intended to allow students to learn at their specific reading level and excel at their own pace.
o Corrective Reading – This direct instruction program is intended for students who are reading at least two levels below their grade. This program identifies the gaps in student learning and then helps students build the skills needed to get their reading back on track. As students master the skills, they are able to move into Reading Mastery. This program can be used in grades 3rd – 5th.
We are pleased that the Crete Elementary School reading program will address the needs of all readers. All students are expected to reach the same high standards as readers. Students who grasp reading easily will move through the Reading Mastery levels more quickly. Students who struggle with reading are able to receive additional instruction, which helps build their skills and reduces their frustrations.
In determining the best reading level for each student, we will be giving all students a short reading test. This test will be administered individually to each student and will give us a greater understanding of each student’s strengths and reading level. We will begin the testing this Monday and Tuesday, April 21st and 22nd. If additional days are needed we will continue testing the following week. Students that do test out of level six, equivalent to the sixth grade, will receive reading instruction using our novel studies program for advanced readers. After the results of this testing have been thoroughly reviewed we will be able to place students in instructional groups.
If you have any questions or would like to hear more about this new program, please feel free to call us anytime. We will be happy to answer any of your questions and provide additional information.
