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Word Lab in a Balanced Reading Program |
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| Mon. | Tues. | Wed. | Thurs. | Fri. | Weekly totals | |
| Directed reading/ thinking/listening activities |
20 min. read aloud + 25 min. lit. groups |
20 min. read aloud + 25 min. lit. groups | 20 min. read aloud + 25 min. lit. groups | 20 min. class read of non-fiction text (SS or Sci) + 25 min. discussion and direct instruct. activities | 20 min. class read of non-fiction text (SS or Sci) + 25 min. discussion and direct instruct. activities |
3 hrs, 45 min. other instruction |
| Word Lab - vocab. using a variety of comprehension strategies |
50 min. with the whole class using Word Lab in the computer lab |
30 min. with 1/4 of the class using WL on classroom
computers /other 3/4 doing SSR |
(SAME-rotating students as needed) |
(SAME-rotating students as needed) |
(SAME-rotating students as needed) |
2 hrs, 50 min. maximum possible spent on Word Lab per student 50 min. minimum possible spent on
Word Lab ( with up to 2 additional hrs possible to spend on SSR) |
| SSR - sustained, self-selected, silent reading | 25 min. for homework with a brief journal entry completed after each selection |
(SAME) |
(SAME) |
(SAME) |
(SAME) |
2 hrs, 5 min. SSR for homework (with journaling) |
| Total inclass instruction |
1 hr, 35 min |
1 hr, 15 min. |
1 hr, 15 min. |
1 hr, 15 min. |
1 hr, 15 min. |
6 hrs, 35 min inclass instruction |
| *Note that students
who have stronger vocabulary and reading skills will spend less time using
the vocabulary program and more time learning new vocabulary from their
SSR. This fits what is appropriate for these students according to
research. Based on data collected from test classrooms, strong readers
need only the 50 min. in the computer lab weekly to make significant
progress. Challenged readers make even greater gains in reading
comprehension when provided more time to use the program.
The program maintains access to student progress and its reports provide the information needed to decide on a daily basis which students need more time on the program. In a typical classroom 3 to 5 students will need to spend time using the program every day. An additional 8 to 12 will need to rotate taking turns during the week on the classroom computers to keep up. This schedule assumes a class of 25 to 30 students with 5 to 8 computers available in the classroom and weekly access to a computer lab that can service a full class. It is most cost effective for schools with more than one classroom using the program. This schedule gives the teacher the most freedom to guide and monitor students as they work, a necessary and valuable part of the learning process. |
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