About Read 180
One of the compelling issues facing educators today is how to address the needs of struggling readers. READ 180 provides a powerful response to this urgent need. By bringing together the essential building blocks of effective intervention, READ 180 breaks the cycle of failure and allows struggling readers to experience and achieve success.
READ 180 is a comprehensive reading intervention program designed to meet the needs of students in elementary to high school whose reading achievement is below the proficient level. The program directly addresses individual needs through adaptive and instructional software, high-interest literature, and direct instruction in reading skills.
In support of the No Child Left Behind Act, Read 180 emphasizes these key skills:
- phonemic awareness
- phonics
- fluency
- vocabulary
- comprehension
An Instructional Model That Works
The Read 180 instructional model provides a simple way to organize instruction and class activity. The day begins and ends with whole-group direct instruction. In between whole-group meetings, students break into three small groups that rotate among three stations as shown below:
Whole Group Instruction
|
Small Group Rotations |
Whole Group Wrap-Up
|
The teacher begins the day by providing direct instruction to the whole class.
|
Small Group
Direct Instruction |
Read 180
Software |
Reading
Practice |
The day ends with 10 more minutes of whole-group instruction. |
The students get diagnostically informed instruction in a small group where individual needs can be met. |
Students use the Read 180 software independently providing them with intensive, individualized skills practice. |
Students read the Read 180 paperbacks and audio-books |
Student Growth at Apollo High School:
My name is Jennifer Smith, and I am a Read 180 teacher at Apollo High School. Apollo has seen tremendous growth in student achievement and reading levels since implementing the Read 180 program. At the end of the 2003-2004 school year, 46 out of 52 Read 180 students raised their reading levels significantly. For the 2004-2005 school year, Read 180 is also being implemented in our special services department under the direction of Sarah Walker. Ms. Walker and I look forward to future successes in our Read 180 classrooms. It is so thrilling to see students excited about reading because they feel more confident in their reading abilities.
What last year’s freshman said about Read 180
“I like the Read 180 class, because it is a lot more fun than the other English classes I had in middle school.” ~W.M. |
“This is an easy class if you put forth the effort (A LOT). You read a lot of books in this class. The best book we read was Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper. Mrs. Smith is a great teacher. The rotations in the class are fun; just do your work! Don’t give up! Have a wonderful year.” ~W.O. |
“I liked the book Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper. It was my favorite.” ~B.B. |
”In coming freshman, you will love Read 180. It makes reading fun. It also makes the class time go by fast. Just DON’T sleep in class! Take it from me, I know.” ~J.D. |
“Read the book The Greatest by Walter Dean Myers. It is about the life story of Muhammad Ali and the best book you can read in this class.” ~J.L. |
“In coming freshman, you’ll like being with Mrs. Smith. She really knows how to teach and will expect you to put effort in your work. Just do the work she assigns and you will pass this class.” ~C.M. |
“My favorite books were Soldier’s Heart and My Everest Story.” ~C.T. |
“Be sure to always do your homework or you will not do well in this class. Take your book home and read it at night. If you don’t, you will not have time to finish it. It seems like six weeks is a lot of time to read a book, but when you only have 20 minutes in class to read, you need to do some reading at home. Just don’t put it off.” ~J.M. |
