[LM_NET] HIT: Computer Based reading programs

[Susan Speranza <castleriggpekes@ADELPHIA.NET>]

ORIGINAL POST:
I'm on the Literacy committee here at school and my principal, who is 
the chair of this committee, is wondering if there are any self 
directed, computer based reading programs that would be suitable for a 
high school. We need to improve our reading and writing scores and we 
thought, if there was such a program, it might help us in this endeavor. 
 
If you know of any or have any experience using any, I'd love to know.


RESPONSES:

Our district uses READ 180 by Scholastic.  I don’t know if I would say if it’s 
self driven, but does utilize computers a great deal.  Students progress at their 
own pace.  The class is divided into 3 groups: some reading, some on laptops, some 
receiving direct instruction.  It seems to be working really well for the students 
we piloted the program with.

WE have used Scholastic Reading Counts for 5 years.  Have been a huge 
supporter and the teachers who used it have loved it.  Just updated to 
their new Enterprise Edition and hate the update.  Still using it 
because it is much better suited to high school than AR.  But can't give 
the glowing recommendation that I used to.

There is a program called Read 180 that my be what you are looking for.

There is a program called "Natural Reader" that works with textbooks. 
You contact the textbook publisher to get the textbook on disc and then 
the "Natural Reader" program will read the text to the student.  The 
program just came in the other day and the teachers will start using it 
sometime next week.


Susan Speranza,
Library Media Specialist
Bellows Falls Union High School
Bellows Falls, VT  05101
(802) 463-3944 x 210
Castleriggpekes@adelphia.net

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