Reversing Declines in Reading Scores in Middle and High School
January 22, 2018
It’s a common concern that only one-third of fourth graders’ reading scores are at grade level. A lesser known statistic is that despite remediation and intervention, 66% of students aren’t reading at grade level in 8th grade. This latter statistic suggests two crucial problems: For many, when students receive reading remediation in elementary school it’s not lasting after the support ends; Students who are good readers in elementary school aren’t continuing to develop they way they should The implications of poor reading skills are well-known and well-documented, affecting all aspects of career success. So if you are concerned, don’t wait and hope it fixes itself. Why do reading scores decline in middle and high school (even if they are fine elementary readers)? A strikingly… Read More
Verbal Reasoning: The Key to Academic Success
December 9, 2014
Note: This is one of a 10 blog series on learning traits. Read about all 10 learning traits here. Verbal reasoning is the skill most highly correlated with academic achievement in grades K-12. If you want to help your students succeed in school, keep reading. What is Verbal Reasoning? Verbal reasoning is the ability to understand what you read or hear. It enables us to draw conclusions from limited information and understand how new ideas connect to what you already know. It’s a skill everyone uses in and out of school. Why is Verbal Reasoning so important? Most of in-school learning involves listening to the teacher or reading, skills that rely heavily on verbal reasoning: following directions, learning to read, and reading to learn. As you might guess, verbal skills can be just as important in math and science… Read More
