Learning how to read, it's one of the most important skills a person can have. However, many local schools are not hitting the mark come test time. Many schools across the Quad Cities aren't making their AYP test scores in both math and reading. Those are standards put in place by the No Child Left Behind Act.
The Colona School is among those not making the cut, especially when it comes to reading. However, now they're taking a new approach to not only bring scores up, but instill in their students a passion for the subject. That new approach is Literacy Specialist Gretchen Courtney. She will be coming to the school every month for the rest of the year to work one on one with teachers and teach them the latest skills and techniques used to help kids learn how to read.
"I say we instruct rather than assign nowadays," Courtney said.
She said teaching kids how to read is no longer about one month units on a specific element. She believes it's about repetition and making sure kids understand exactly how to comprehend what they read.
"It's not just the mechanics of vowels and consonants, it's how do I think through a text what's the meaning, what's the information and what I'm reading," Principal Laurie Bracshe said.
Bracshe said seeing kids grow is her passion. After three years of not making AYP in reading, she knew she had to act and re-educate teachers with the latest research and techniques to help them put their best foot forward. That's why she enlisted the help of Courtney.
"We want a reading culture here," she said.
She said with Courtney coming to the school once a month for the rest of the year, working with teachers, she believes the school is well on its way.
"I think teachers are surprised kids are catching so quickly and having success with it, on the other hand we have to be patient with teachers because this is so new to them."
In two years, state testing will switch to a new format called "common core standards". It focuses mainly on how well kids can think and use problem solving skills. School officials hope their new program will put them ahead of the class when those tests start.
