Just as the rich get richer, good readers read a lot, developing a richer vocabulary and becoming better readers. Struggling readers understandably do not read as much, and so fail to improve their vocabulary and other reading skills. The latest educational data confirms what classroom teachers have long known. Students who reach the upper grade levels without reading proficiency face almost insurmountable odds against future success. Educators have come to realize that a successful effort to break the cycle of failure for older students must address the complex psychological, emotional, and physiological issues behind their illiteracy.
Researchers also know that students learn best when the materials are relevant and engaging.
But with age-appropriate material, these students often spend so much effort struggling with new words that little contextual meaning is conveyed. With little meaningful context gathered from text, students grow to doubt the usefulness of reading. It has become increasingly clear that a curriculum gap has left students without appropriate materials to break the cycle of failure. It was this lack of appropriate intervention materials that led researchers at Peabody College of Vanderbilt to develop the Peabody Literacy Program. The Peabody Literacy Program is based on a unique combination of learning theory and pedagogical principles that capitalizes on the power of integrated media technology.