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Reading Counts
www.scholastic.com
Evidence of Effectiveness:
"Just plain reading" is a common activity among good readers and goes hand-in-hand with reading achievement. High levels of reading achievement are associated with large amounts of voluntary reading and this positive relationship has been demonstrated on standardized tests (Pearson and Fielding, 1991; Anderson, Wilson and Fielding, 1988).
Findings from the Nation's Report Card on Reading also consistently demonstrate the correlation between the amount of reading accomplished and reading proficiency. The more students read in school-related situations and as a leisure activity, the better they read (Campbell, Donahue, Reese and Phillips, 1996).
The reading motivation and management system that serves as the basis for Reading Counts, has been in use throughout the country for over a decade. The following outcomes in case studies prepared by schools are attributed to The Electronic Bookshelf (EBS), the predecessor to Reading Counts:
· Reading scores improved on standardized and criterion-referenced tests.
· Circulation of books in classrooms and libraries increased.
· Time spent on reading tasks increased.
· Students demonstrated a more positive attitude about reading.
· Student achievement improved in other subject areas.
· EBS students outperformed others in achievement tests.
Andrew Jackson Middle School, Kershaw, SC
Comparative Basic Skills Assessment Program scores of middle school students show that those who used EBS performed better than those who did not use EBS. The following displays the performance of the same group of students during a three-year period. Every year, EBS users scored on average 10% higher than their non-EBS counterparts.
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YEAR |
NON-EBS STUDENTS |
EBS STUDENTS |
|
1990 |
74 |
86 |
|
1991 |
76 |
87 |
|
1992 |
81 |
88 |
Chelmsford, MA
During four school years, the Metropolitan Achievement Test was administered in the fall and in the spring to different groups of fifth graders. As can be seen from the chart below, percentile scoring increased for each group using EBS.
Library Circulation
Library circulation is also an important indicator of the success of the program. In 1992, circulation at the library at St. Hubert's Catholic School was measured at 9.9%. After EBS was introduced in 1993, circulation increased dramatically, reaching 146% during the 1996-97 school year.
Program Description:
Scholastic's Reading Counts is a reading motivation and management program that helps educators encourage and monitor independent and curriculum-connected reading. The computerized program contains quizzes, reports, and Book Expert, a literature database that allows teachers, librarians, and administrators to search for book titles that meet specific criteria. Reading Counts also uses the Lexile Framework as an optional means of matching students to appropriate-level texts.
NOTE: The Lexile Framework estimates the reading level (Lexile text measure) of any written material as well as students' reading comprehension levels (Lexile reader measure). When the Lexile measures of the text and reader are matched, the reader is more likely to experience success in reading.
The Reading Counts program follows three core steps:
1. Students select books from a database of more than 15,000 titles from a wide variety of publishers.
2. Students read the books at their own pace.
3. Students take short quizzes on the computer to verify comprehension of each book they read.
The Student
The Reading Counts program keeps track of every student's reading throughout the year. Student progress can be marked by points or the number of books read. A variety of incentives are available to reward student achievement.
The Educator
Teachers, librarians, and administrators may access student records to make recommendations or intervene when necessary. Auto-Alerts automatically notify educators if students are exceeding or performing below expectations.
Aspects of Reading
This program addresses the following aspects of reading:
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Correlation to Nevada State Standards
Currently being completed.
Teacher Support:
Staff Development
On-Site Staff Development: Fee-based training to be arranged between Scholastic and the participating school.
Technical Support
All Reading Counts customers receive free telephone technical support for one year.