[senco-forum] Re Literacy

Hello everyone

  Reluctant to enter this debate but ...

  Am I wrong to think that half of all people are going to be below the 'norm' and half above?  If 50% of pupils test below their chronological age for reading then that follows the 'normal distribution curve'.  If we improve all pupils' reading levels, then the 'norm' also rises so that 50% are always above the norm and 50% are below.

  The real issue to me is the demand we are placing on pupils.  I did some research years ago which suggested that the text books Year 7 pupils were given had reading ages of 14 and above.  This year, the new GCSE science exam papers seem to have reading levels which mean that those who have standardised scores below 95 can't access them unaided when the cut off point for having a reader is SS of 85.

  Amanda
  Secondary SENCO
  Cornwall

Maggie Downie <maizie2004 at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
  As a secondary senco, Chris, could you put your hand on your heart and say 'Yes, 80% of our pupils are competent readers'? I'd put the figure at more like 50% in our school. Between 45 - 50% of our Y7 intake always test as reading below their chronological age. Even some of the ones who are at CA haven't always maintained it 12 months later.

I certainly don't agree with the 80% figure - if it's based on KS2 results it's spurious, as I've said elsewhere today. If it is based on peer reviewed research, I'd like to see a reference to it. 

I'm in complete agreement with you about the rest.

Maggie

chris white wrote: Hi all,
I'm very reluctant to get involved in this debate. But--can I ask this
question please?
I think it has been agreed that 80% of pupils will learn to read anyway
whether or not they learn through the use of synthetic phonics.

However couldn't it be argued that many of this 80% would actually learn
more quickly and easily if they did learn using this method?

Also if this premise is true, wouldn't it follow that some of these pupils
who struggle to learn presently, (even though they do succeed eventually,)
would actually enjoy reading more just because the process of learning to
read has been less hard work in the process.

Even those children who learn to read quickly and easily would be given an
initial push in the right direction as instead of having to go through the
process of working out phonics etc. for themselves without being taught.
Chris
Secondary SENCO

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com 

Amanda
Secondary SENCO
Cornwall