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How Delaware is implementing the research findings in the National Research Council Report, "Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children."
Delaware has instituted a significant Reading Initiative to address the research findings. The Secretary of Education appointed a point person for the reading initiative at the Department of Education (DOE) and has also hired a Teacher in Residence for Reading for the 1998-99 school year. The Teacher in Residence will determine existing practice in Delaware as well as staff a Task Force on reading instruction. The major charge of the Reading Task Force will be to make recommendations for implementing the research findings in Delaware as they pertain to professional development, instructional "best practice," and the roles and responsibilities of all of our reading partners (including a variety of volunteer and auxiliary programs like America READS, RIF, and Read-Aloud Delaware). To focus statewide attention on the importance of ensuring that all children can read well by the end of third grade, the DOE will sponsor a Delaware Reading Summit on October 21st. The summit will serve to convene representatives from Delaware school districts, agencies and communities, who will learn from a variety of expert speakers and who will also hear of extensive plans to advance reading this year firsthand from Delaware?s Fist Lady.
Reading Success from the Start (RSS) is a successful early intervention model developed by Dr. John J. Pikulski at the University of Delaware. Currently, the following Delaware school districts, representing a broad demographic range, utilize this effective early literacy program: Christina, Colonial, Indian River, Lake Forest, Milford, Red Clay, Smyrna, and Woodbridge. Based on research that suggests that most reading problems are preventable if students receive intense, expert help in the early grades, RSS provides a strong foundation in the fundamentals of reading for young children. Although the model is most often used in K-2 classrooms, it is effective with students who are English Language Learners throughout the elementary grades. Small group instruction for students and training for teachers are essential. Instruction is holistic, with sub-skills incorporated into instruction which utilizes authentic texts. Teachers receive continual training and opportunities for reflection, feedback, and discussion as they utilize this instructional approach in their classrooms. Some districts have formed unique partnerships within the community to provide quality instruction while teachers receive training during the school day. RSS can be used in conjunction with tutoring/mentoring programs in addition to small group instruction.
Dr. John J. Pikulski Dr. Margaret S. Dee
University of Delaware Delaware Department of Education
Willard Hall Building P.O. Box 1402
Newark, DE 19711 Dover, DE 19903
(302) 831-2184 (302) 739-4667
(302) 739-2388 Fax
E-mail: mdee@state.de.us
State: Delaware
Team Leader: Margaret Dee
Phone Number: 302-739-4885, ext. 3110
As a result of attending this Summit, what two things does your state team commit to doing in the next six months toward enhanced literacy for children and their families?
1. Enhanced literacy for children and families in local communities.
Our statewide Reading summit on October 21, 1998 was the "kick-off" for our statewide focus on reading success. As a result of the call for zero tolerance for reading failure, our very best reading experts and stakeholders are clamoring to participate on our statewide reading success committee. This committee, which will be chaired by Dr. John Pikulski, professor at the University of Delaware and past-president of IRA, and our First Lady, Martha Carper, will have the major charge of making both short- and long-term recommendations for both preventing reading difficulties and in helping our students who are currently reading below level rise to excellence.
Although this is a daunting challenge, we anticipate that the money and varied subcommittees' fundings will help us to do the following in the area of successful reading: develop a comprehensive plan for reading success in Delaware, both in preventing reading difficulties and for providing students the best opportunities for achieving the high levels of reading and writing proficiency demanded in the future.
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