Results Are In - 2011 Summer Success!
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08.23.2011
Summer Reading and Writing Camp - 2011
The BRAIN Lab summer program was designed to improve upon the impressive results from the 2010 summer program. Instead of 2 four week sessions, it was decided to have one six week session in order to do add writing development to the curriculum. Research on literacy development has shown that students can make greater gains in overall literacy using a balanced approach to reading. A balanced approach to reading is lessons that require the use of reading, writing and oral language skills in order to complete the assignment. The balanced literacy program is designed to allow students the opportunity to select reading materials of high interest. Once a topic has been selected, lessons are prepared so that skill development will occur on the topic. It was believed that the students would be even more motivated to improve literacy skills with an opportunity to explore a self-selected topic. Hence, along with the award winning Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant programs, students would receive targeted instruction in reading and writing as well.
The topics selected by the students ranged from the screaming frog to Sean White (skate boarder). As a final project, the students would work on several small writing assignments and one big writing assignment in which all of the stages to writing were address: pre-writing, writing, editing, writing and finally publishing. In addition, students performed some of their research on the computer in order to find artifacts such as pictures and photos to include in their presentation. The final project would involve creating a display that they would use to present on the final day of the Brain Lab program.
One thing that was important to remain the same was having F.U.N. Fun in the BRAIN Lab means - Fun, Understanding and Natural Learning environment. Moreover, the students were able to engage in fun recreational activities such as hiking in the canyon, recreational games during break time, singing and dancing. Two students even created a rap that they proudly sung to unsuspecting teachers and parents. It was a real treat!
The Proof is in the Results
The results of the program were phenomenal. Nearly 90% of the students made gains in overall reading proficiency. The results ranged from 0.1 - 2.2 years in literacy abilities with a mean growth of 0.8 years in six weeks. See the adjacent chart with some of the results. In addition to the improvement in reading, all of the students completed their theme units and did a fantastic job presenting their findings to family and friends.
Joey "Canyon Man" invited his parents and grandparents to attend. They were pleasantly astonished as they watch their son present what he had learned and wrote about over the summer. His theme was Walnut Creek located just around the corner from the BRAIN Lab.
Also, Sebastian and Miranda did a fantastic job with their presentations. Miranda in particular had a clever idea to add to her presentation on the Screaming Frog. On her display, she placed a red button on it that said, push to hear an example of the screaming frog. When someone pressed the button, she would do her best impression of the screaming frog. It was a big hit with our guests.
There are many more successes that could be shared about the 2011 Summer Reading and Writing program. What is exciting, we believe it will only get better!!!
Congratulations to all of our wonderful students and the wonderful professionals and volunteers who helped Make It Happen!!!
The BRAIN Lab summer program was designed to improve upon the impressive results from the 2010 summer program. Instead of 2 four week sessions, it was decided to have one six week session in order to do add writing development to the curriculum. Research on literacy development has shown that students can make greater gains in overall literacy using a balanced approach to reading. A balanced approach to reading is lessons that require the use of reading, writing and oral language skills in order to complete the assignment. The balanced literacy program is designed to allow students the opportunity to select reading materials of high interest. Once a topic has been selected, lessons are prepared so that skill development will occur on the topic. It was believed that the students would be even more motivated to improve literacy skills with an opportunity to explore a self-selected topic. Hence, along with the award winning Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant programs, students would receive targeted instruction in reading and writing as well.
The topics selected by the students ranged from the screaming frog to Sean White (skate boarder). As a final project, the students would work on several small writing assignments and one big writing assignment in which all of the stages to writing were address: pre-writing, writing, editing, writing and finally publishing. In addition, students performed some of their research on the computer in order to find artifacts such as pictures and photos to include in their presentation. The final project would involve creating a display that they would use to present on the final day of the Brain Lab program.
One thing that was important to remain the same was having F.U.N. Fun in the BRAIN Lab means - Fun, Understanding and Natural Learning environment. Moreover, the students were able to engage in fun recreational activities such as hiking in the canyon, recreational games during break time, singing and dancing. Two students even created a rap that they proudly sung to unsuspecting teachers and parents. It was a real treat!
The Proof is in the Results
The results of the program were phenomenal. Nearly 90% of the students made gains in overall reading proficiency. The results ranged from 0.1 - 2.2 years in literacy abilities with a mean growth of 0.8 years in six weeks. See the adjacent chart with some of the results. In addition to the improvement in reading, all of the students completed their theme units and did a fantastic job presenting their findings to family and friends.
Joey "Canyon Man" invited his parents and grandparents to attend. They were pleasantly astonished as they watch their son present what he had learned and wrote about over the summer. His theme was Walnut Creek located just around the corner from the BRAIN Lab.
Also, Sebastian and Miranda did a fantastic job with their presentations. Miranda in particular had a clever idea to add to her presentation on the Screaming Frog. On her display, she placed a red button on it that said, push to hear an example of the screaming frog. When someone pressed the button, she would do her best impression of the screaming frog. It was a big hit with our guests.
There are many more successes that could be shared about the 2011 Summer Reading and Writing program. What is exciting, we believe it will only get better!!!
Congratulations to all of our wonderful students and the wonderful professionals and volunteers who helped Make It Happen!!!