A Second Chance for Struggling Readers Bruce Joyce, Marilyn Hrycauk, and Emily Calhoun March 2001, Vol. 42-46 One of the greatest challenges facing educators is the low literacy rates of older readers. In an effort to attack this problem, a school district in Canada created a program called Second Chance to address literacy for students grades 4-9. Teachers also receive ongoing training and form inquiry teams to support their work. The data support that students are making great gains in reading and writing, both in class and on standardized tests.
Students are never too old to improve their literacy skills.
The Triarchic Model Robert J. Sternberg, Elena L. Grigorenko, and Linda Jarvin March 2001, Vol. Applying a theory of cognition to teaching reading helps all students achieve. The authors describe studies applying the theory specifically to reading instruction and involving more than 1,200 students in middle and high schools. They provide examples of instructional strategies used to encourage analytical, creative, and practical skills in one of the studies and of assessment techniques that include multiple choice, open-ended questions, and homework assignments. The authors will be applying the triarchic model to teaching 4th grade reading, mathematics, and science in a large-scale national study.