Hillcrest Reading ProgramHillcrest Reading Program

TrillionsTrillions of dollars have been spent on of dollars have been spent on public education.public education.

States and districts get States and districts get billionsbillions in in grants to improve instruction.grants to improve instruction.

Teachers are certified by over Teachers are certified by over 14001400 schools of education.schools of education.

Over Over 100 THOUSAND100 THOUSAND journal articles journal articles have been published on reading.have been published on reading.

But…But…

What’s the public getting for all that What’s the public getting for all that money?money?

How well is public education doing?How well is public education doing?

Are Are ALL ALL children taught well?children taught well?

Decide for yourself ……..Decide for yourself ……..

NAEP. 2005. Grade 4 reading.NAEP. 2005. Grade 4 reading.That’s 720 days/hours!!That’s 720 days/hours!!

38

33

30

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

All Students

Per

cent of S

tuden

ts

Proficient/Advanced

Basic

Below Basic

720 days.720 days.

720 hours.720 hours.

And 38% of students And 38% of students STILL STILL read at the “below basic” read at the “below basic” level.level.

And only 30% are proficient.And only 30% are proficient.

““Below basic” doesn’t mean “not too good.”Below basic” doesn’t mean “not too good.”

It means “CAN’T read”!It means “CAN’T read”!

““Below basic” is like saying Below basic” is like saying “Laying very still”“Laying very still” instead ofinstead of “DEAD.”“DEAD.”

You think it’s pretty bad that 38% You think it’s pretty bad that 38% CAN’T read and that only 30% are CAN’T read and that only 30% are proficient?proficient?

Wait till you see how public education Wait till you see how public education teaches teaches minority kidsminority kids and and poor kidspoor kids..

NAEP. 2005. Grade 4 reading.NAEP. 2005. Grade 4 reading.Same data, by “race”Same data, by “race”

59

28

56 51

25

29

32

29 30

35

13

40

15 18

40

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

AfricanAmerican

Latino White

Per

cent

of S

tude

nts

Proficient/Advanced

Basic

Below Basic

In other words, after 720 hours and 720 days, In other words, after 720 hours and 720 days, only only 13-18% of minority and poor kids can read well13-18% of minority and poor kids can read well..

Oh, they have REAL Oh, they have REAL fine fine futures waiting!futures waiting!

You’d think it was real You’d think it was real hardhard to teach beginning to teach beginning reading. Some kind of big reading. Some kind of big mysterymystery..

It’s a piece of cake It’s a piece of cake if if you know what you’re doing.you know what you’re doing.

Millions of home-schooling families are doing it well Millions of home-schooling families are doing it well right now!right now!

The Achievement Gap Up Close and PersonalThe Achievement Gap Up Close and Personal

I was testing in the school library.  In came a little I was testing in the school library.  In came a little fifth grade kid (his race and ethnicity don’t matter) fifth grade kid (his race and ethnicity don’t matter) wearing a Cub Scout uniform—blue with gold wearing a Cub Scout uniform—blue with gold lettering, frayed at the cuffs and collar, but spotless lettering, frayed at the cuffs and collar, but spotless and starched.  His Momma took good care of him. and starched.  His Momma took good care of him. He was real thin.  His skin was stretched tightly over He was real thin.  His skin was stretched tightly over his cheek bones--like a wood carving.  his cheek bones--like a wood carving. 

I said, “Howdy, Pal.  [We shook hands.] This isn’t a I said, “Howdy, Pal.  [We shook hands.] This isn’t a test.  It’s just to see how you read so we can get test.  It’s just to see how you read so we can get books that are just right for you.  Here.  Read this.  [a books that are just right for you.  Here.  Read this.  [a paragraph in a testing book] Try not to make paragraph in a testing book] Try not to make mistakes. Okay?  Start whenever you’re ready.”mistakes. Okay?  Start whenever you’re ready.”

He put his index finger under the first word.  I He put his index finger under the first word.  I thought “Great.  He knows how to do this!”  And he thought “Great.  He knows how to do this!”  And he started.started.

“ “K…K…Ki…Kite (the word is Kit)… mmm… mad K…K…Ki…Kite (the word is Kit)… mmm… mad (made) a bowat (boat).  She mad the bowat of thin (made) a bowat (boat).  She mad the bowat of thin (tin).  The noise (nose) of the bowat was vvv…vvv…(tin).  The noise (nose) of the bowat was vvv…vvv…very tin…The bowat wants (went) ver…ver very very tin…The bowat wants (went) ver…ver very fast…fast…

Can you see that he’s Can you see that he’s GUESSINGGUESSING what the words say? what the words say? [Guessing. Fifth grade.] [Guessing. Fifth grade.]

He looks at the first few letters---such as “no”---and he guesses He looks at the first few letters---such as “no”---and he guesses “noise.”“noise.”

WHY? WHY? Because he’s been Because he’s been TAUGHT TAUGHT to do it exactly that way.to do it exactly that way.

Taught for 720 days to do it that way---Taught for 720 days to do it that way---the wrong way.the wrong way.

The way that The way that ENSURESENSURES he will NEVER read any better, never he will NEVER read any better, never go to college, never get a good job, and most likely never leave go to college, never get a good job, and most likely never leave public housing.public housing.

He has He has NOT NOT been taught to been taught to sound out wordssound out words---a SIMPLE skill ---a SIMPLE skill that would tell him that would tell him exactlyexactly what the words say. what the words say.

He was trying so hard.  His proud expression faded.  He was trying so hard.  His proud expression faded.  He started to sweat.  His finger shook under the He started to sweat.  His finger shook under the words. He looked at me for help.  I said, “You’re doing words. He looked at me for help.  I said, “You’re doing fine.”  [What else could I say?]fine.”  [What else could I say?]

He finally finished.  It took 3 minutes and he made 30 He finally finished.  It took 3 minutes and he made 30 errors.  This is really poor. errors.  This is really poor.

He said, “I’m stupid, ain’t I.”  I almost choked.  I said, He said, “I’m stupid, ain’t I.”  I almost choked.  I said, “No, I bet you know all kinds of things. You’re one “No, I bet you know all kinds of things. You’re one sharp guy.” sharp guy.”

But I knew that…..But I knew that…..

IT WAS OVER for this little kid and for IT WAS OVER for this little kid and for every kid like him.every kid like him.

Nine years old.Nine years old.

Over.Over.

Say Hello to dropping out, going to Say Hello to dropping out, going to prison, and a life of poverty. prison, and a life of poverty.

CompletelyCompletely

TotallyTotally

AbsolutelyAbsolutely

Unnecessary. Unnecessary. Because….Because….

It’s It’s NOTNOT social class, “race,” family social class, “race,” family background, or not enough school funds.background, or not enough school funds.

These are excuses. That is, lies.These are excuses. That is, lies.

How do we know?How do we know?

Because when you use the right materials Because when you use the right materials and instructional methods, most and instructional methods, most kids kids achieve to high levelsachieve to high levels. .

In some districts, schools with 90% minority In some districts, schools with 90% minority and poor kids have the and poor kids have the highest scores.highest scores.

So, how about if we (principals, So, how about if we (principals, superintendents, ed professors, politicians) superintendents, ed professors, politicians) just just SHUT UPSHUT UP about “closing the about “closing the achievement gap,” “celebrating diversity,” achievement gap,” “celebrating diversity,” needing more money, and “social justice”---needing more money, and “social justice”---because feel-good talk doesn’t do anything because feel-good talk doesn’t do anything for kidsfor kids..

And instead justAnd instead just

USE WELL-DESIGNED MATERIALS and USE WELL-DESIGNED MATERIALS and EFFECTIVE TEACHING METHODS.EFFECTIVE TEACHING METHODS.

Or is that asking too much?Or is that asking too much?

Wouldn’t it be interesting if we could Wouldn’t it be interesting if we could teach kids to read on a second grade teach kids to read on a second grade level in about level in about three MONTHS-three MONTHS----for 20 ---for 20 dollars?dollars?

Not 720 days---with textbooks costing Not 720 days---with textbooks costing about 150 dollars per kid for each grade about 150 dollars per kid for each grade level---and kids STILL can’t read.level---and kids STILL can’t read.

Well, we Well, we can can do it.do it.

We We are are doing it.doing it.

This kid couldn’t read. Now he can. He won’t be one of the This kid couldn’t read. Now he can. He won’t be one of the tragic statistics. Why, because his tutor taught him well.tragic statistics. Why, because his tutor taught him well.

Just teach well, using tested materials and methods…Just teach well, using tested materials and methods…

and…and…

Hillcrest Reading ProgramHillcrest Reading ProgramMonday-ThursdayMonday-Thursday4:00-5:00 PM4:00-5:00 PM

Snack – Teach – More snack (dill pickle the size of Snack – Teach – More snack (dill pickle the size of New Jersey)New Jersey)

We use the program called “Teach Your Child to We use the program called “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.” It teaches the reading Read in 100 Easy Lessons.” It teaches the reading skills directly and systematically.skills directly and systematically.

Commit to TWO days.Commit to TWO days.

We train you.We train you.

You’ll know how to teach—and how to teach reading.You’ll know how to teach—and how to teach reading.

You’ll know what NO other graduates will know!You’ll know what NO other graduates will know!

[How will THAT make you look when you apply for a [How will THAT make you look when you apply for a job?]job?]

You’ll have a head start as leader.You’ll have a head start as leader.

The Chancellor will love you.The Chancellor will love you.

You get to make a difference.You get to make a difference.

You get to sin for the rest of your life and STILL get You get to sin for the rest of your life and STILL get into Heaven. into Heaven. Big plus!Big plus!

ContactContact

Jessica MacDonald Jessica MacDonald jlm1453@uncw.edujlm1453@uncw.edu

AlsoAlso

ricej@uncw.eduricej@uncw.edu

kozloffm@uncw.edukozloffm@uncw.edu