Daycroft Montessori School Classrooms Test Software Programs for Improving Students’ Reading Skills
Ann Arbor, MI (November 24, 2009) – Classrooms in Daycroft Montessori School of Ann Arbor are exploring the use of leading computer software programs to help improve students’ reading and reading-related skills.
In Daycroft’s Grades 1-2 classrooms, selected students work with the award-winning Lexia Reading software for word building and recognition. The software helps a student spell a word, recognize its letters, and sound the word out.
“It’s a very phonics-based approach,” said Jeanine Wright, a head teacher in Daycroft’s Grades 1-2A classroom. “Students practice consonant sounds, long and short vowel sounds, blending, and other essential early reading skills. It’s a useful supplement to our complete Language Arts instructional curriculum in Grades 1 and 2.”
Wright added, “The software has a game-like feeling, which helps involve the students. They focus on only a few words to start, then gradually add words after a lot of successful repetition. Even students who don’t really need the reading help have asked to use the software, because they really enjoy working with it.”
Wright and Saki Rahman, a head teacher in Grades 1-2B, piloted the Lexia Reading program in their classrooms last year. They, along with their fellow head teachers Diane Seeger (1-2A) and Dave Willoughby (1-2B), continue to guide its usage today.
The software allows the student to work independently or under a teacher’s guidance. A brief quiz assesses the student’s reading skills, compares them to the expected abilities for his or her age, and identifies skills-building exercises to focus upon.
Per Wright, Daycroft’s Grades 1-2 classrooms have thus far only scratched the surface of the Lexia Reading program’s utility. Still to be explored, for example, are the software’s downloadable homework sheets and interactive reporting capabilities.
Meanwhile, in Daycroft’s Grades 3-4B classroom, head teachers Sheri Horn and Mandi Tuite are conducting a pilot test of the Kurzweil 3000 reading, writing, and learning software designed for students in the middle and upper elementary grades. Their preliminary exploration of the software is focusing on improving students’ reading comprehension across Daycroft’s Grades 3-4 curriculum.
The teachers can load actual curricular content into the software, then use this immediately relevant text to help assess and improve students’ reading comprehension and remembrance. The software lets students highlight key passages, take notes, and practice creating outlines from the material they have absorbed.
About Daycroft Montessori School
Daycroft Montessori School blends the distinctive student-centered teaching methods of Maria Montessori with traditional and progressive teaching methods. Daycroft thus accomplishes its educational mission: to provide a personalized learning environment that appreciates individual differences, nurtures the whole child, and enables students to develop at their own pace and achieve to their full potential.
Daycroft is one of Washtenaw County’s leading independent schools. It began as a preschool program in 1968. Daycroft has since grown to include a full-day kindergarten program, an elementary school program through 6th grade, before-school and after-school care, summer camp programs, and enrichment classes.
Daycroft has earned accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS; www.isacs.org). It is a member of the Associations of Independent Michigan Schools; www.aims-mi.org) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS; www.nais.org).
Daycroft Preprimary School (preschool and kindergarten) is at 100 E. Oakbrook Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 930-0333.
Daycroft Elementary School (grades K through 6) and Daycroft’s administrative offices are at 1095 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Phone: (734) 662-3335.
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