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Reading First
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Reading First-What is it?
Many learning problems are the result of students’ difficulties with reading.
Successful readers are better able to reach their academic potential.
Reading First is a federally funded program for kindergarten through third grade.
Reading First is part of the No Child Left Behind legislation.
Reading First is to ensure that all children learn to read well by the end of third grade.
A body of rigorous research has identified the proven methods of early reading instruction.
What Is Scientifically Based Reading Research?
What is The Essential Components of Reading Instruction?
What Are the Essentials of an Effective Reading Program?
What Does a Reading First Classroom Look Like?
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What Is Scientifically Based Reading Research?
Scientifically based reading research is research that applies systematic and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to reading development, reading instruction, and reading difficulties.
- Uses rigorous, systematic, and empirical methods.
- Involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and justify drawn conclusions.
- Relies on measurements or observational methods that provide valid data across evaluators and observers and across multiple measurements and observations.
- Has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or approved by a panel of independent experts through a comparable rigorous, objective, and scientific review.
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What is The Essential Components of Reading Instruction?
The Reading First initiative is a nationwide effort to enable all students to become successful early readers. To ensure that children learn to read well, explicit and systematic instruction must be provided in these five areas:
- Phonemic awareness:
Phonemic awareness is the understanding that the sounds of spoken language work together to make words.
- Phonics:
Phonics refers to the understanding that there is a predictable relationship between the sounds of spoken language, and the letters and spellings that represent those sounds in written language.
- Vocabulary development:
To develop vocabulary means to store information about the meanings and pronunciation of words necessary for communication.
- Reading fluency, including oral reading skills:
Fluency is the ability to read text accurately and quickly. It provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. Fluent readers recognize words and comprehend at the same time.
- Reading comprehension strategies:
Purposeful, active readers use comprehension strategies to make sense of text. These are sets of steps for understanding, remembering, and communicating with others about what has been read.
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What Are the Essentials of an Effective Reading Program?
- Screening, diagnostic, and progress monitoring assessments that are valid and reliable.
- Instructional programs and aligned materials that include explicit and systematic instruction in the five essential components of reading instruction.
- Aligned Professional Development
- Dynamic Instructional Leadership
Valid and Reliable Assessments Are Used to Measure Advancement and Identify Students Experiencing Reading Difficulties
- Screening assessments – used to identify students at risk of reading difficulty.
- Diagnostic assessments – provide detailed information about students’ skills and instructional needs. This information can be used to design an appropriate instructional plan.
- Progress monitoring assessments – help the teacher know if students are making adequate progress or need additional assistance.
Instructional Programs and Aligned Materials That Include Explicit and Systematic Instruction in the Five Essential Components of Reading Instruction
- The five elements must be integrated into a coherent instructional design that:
- Pays attention to student strengths and weaknesses.
- Provides ample time for practice.
- Aligns materials for students.
- Offers more than 90 minutes of reading instruction each day.
- Includes Explicit and Systematic Instruction in the Five Essential Components of Reading Instruction.
- Research indicates that teachers who participate in well-designed professional development activities get better results from students.
- The planned professional development experiences must be aligned with the selected instructional program and the state’s academic standards.
- A strong professional development program provides teachers with the time to learn new concepts, practice them, and receive feedback on how well they apply these concepts in daily practice.
Aligned Professional Development
- Teachers will need information about the five essential components, how they relate, and the order in which they should be taught.
- Teachers will need information about the underlying reasons some children experience reading difficulties. They will learn how to effectively use ssessments to inform their instruction.
- A strong professional development plan is one that addresses these items in an integrated, coherent manner.
Dynamic Instructional Leadership
- Leadership, at both the district and building level, must visibly and vocally commit to support improved reading instruction.
- Administrators need to promote the learning of SBRR strategies and practices by all educators in the building.
- Administrators need to clearly define goals and expected student outcomes.
- Administrators must be ready to provide the resources needed to ensure that schools are making adequate progress.
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What Does a Reading First Classroom Look Like?
- Teachers are clear about expectations and are held accountable for meeting them.
- Instruction is based on a comprehensive reading program and connected supplemental materials.
- Grouping strategies are used, but student placement is flexible.
- Regular and frequent assessment is used to determine student placement.
- Students can be seen actively participating in reading activities.
- Time is used productively, and students are engaged in meaningful activity.
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