Adolescents entering the adult world in the 21st Century will read and write more than in any other time in human history. Today's students will need proficient literacy skills to cope with the flood of information they will find wherever they turn.
At Woonona High School we have implemented an innovative, evidence-based wide reading program for all Year 7 and Year 8 students. This is fully funded by the school and is showing demonstrated success in lifting the higher order comprehension skills of all students.
Students are timetabled into the library for two periods per cycle, where they complete the STAR(c) Reader test, a computer adaptive test that tells us their reading level. The program then suggests novels within their reading range and students can choose their own book and spend time in sustained silent reading. Once students complete each novel they do an interactive quiz to receive instant feedback.
This is combined with PAT(R) reading tests and 'Super Six' comprehension strategies that explicitly teach students how to read (cognitive strategies) as well as how to assess and monitor their own process of reading (metacognition strategies). Research shows that a combination of the Accelerated Reader (c) wide reading program with explicit teaching of reading strategies has the largest impact on student improvement.
This program also involves consistent monitoring of student progress, individual parent interviews for targeted students, individual learning plans and learning support or enrichment programs to meet students' individual needs.