[senco-forum] Acceleread/write

In a message dated 08/01/2008 12:49:34 GMT Standard Time,  
Helen.Norris at swaveseyvc.cambs.sch.uk writes:

We are  just coming to the end of a four week intervention using
Acceleread/write  with some very weak year 7 pupils. 

When can we repeat the intervention  with the same pupil? How long a gap
would members leave before repeating  the intervention and what would
they use with the pupils in the  meantime?

When we first put this intervention together I had hoped that the  children 
would, once basic literacy skills had been improved, move on to the  more 
interesting and relevant curriculum-based and project-based work still  using a 
talking word processor. Most schools, pleased with the results of the  "remedial" 
aspect worked in this way again with different children. I know of  little 
qualitative evaluation using the talking WP to support  writing.

For the same reasons as above I know of few children who have had a second  
go of 4 weeks and how they have got on. The only data I do have is of a boy (Yr 
 3) who had more sessions about 9 months later and improved by another 37 
months  in reading.

The 20 sessions over 20 days (4 weeks) was somewhat arbitrary but satisfied  
the criteria of short and frequent. I asked for this arrangement to be adhered 
 to during the evaluation in an attempt to control some of the variables. 3  
sessions a week for 6 weeks might be just as effective. Try it and see.

If anyone has any data or info on further sessions I would be interested to  
hear of it. The most recent data I have received was from Lancs and showed an  
average increase in reading of 14.7 months after the initial twenty 20  
minute sessions.

More information from _Talksystem at aol.com_ (mailto:Talksystem at aol.com) 

Financial interest declared.

Martin