BOSTON (Feb. 21, 2018) – According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress’ reading assessment, only a third of the students in each of the grades evaluated scored at or above proficiency. And while schools’ own end-of-year assessment results tell which students are not reading proficiently, those results do not identify why. Dr. Suzanne Carreker, the principal educational content lead at Lexia Learning, a Rosetta Stone® (NYSE: RST) company and author of a new white paper titled “Supporting Non-Proficient Adolescent Readers: Identifying and Addressing Why They Struggle,” explores the causes of non-proficient reading and possible solutions.
“It is not always easy to pinpoint exactly why an adolescent reader does not read proficiently but if the reasons are not identified and addressed, that student will continue to struggle,” said Carreker. “And since proficiency in reading impacts all subjects across the secondary curriculum, time is of the essence where non-proficient adolescent readers are concerned. The effects go beyond their academic careers. Proficient readers in grades 6-12 are headed toward a future of greater academic success and economic opportunities. As the adage says, ‘the more you learn, the more you earn.’”
In the white paper, Carreker discusses the different ways in which students exhibit non-proficiency, such as students who demonstrate deep knowledge and vocabulary in class discussions but read slowly and inaccurately; or students who read flawlessly but without comprehension. She examines the multiple causes for variability in reading proficiency among adolescent readers, giving special attention to two mutually-dependent factors responsible for reading comprehension — decoding and linguistic comprehension.
“Supporting Non-Proficient Adolescent Readers” also presents four learner personas that illustrate the traits and behaviors of students struggling with decoding, linguistic comprehension or both. Learner personas can help in identifying the causes of non-proficient reading and the instructional needs of real students who share the same traits and behaviors.
“The preponderance of non-proficient readers will have decoding or linguistic comprehension issues, but that is not always the case,” advised Carreker. The white paper also discusses special considerations such as English language learner status and other elements that could cause or complicate proficiency problems.
“Knowing and addressing the why, the underlying cause, will assist in helping to improve students’ deep analysis and comprehension of increasingly complex text,” said Carreker. “That, in turn, will lead to improved end-of-year assessment scores and all the benefits that come with them.”
A complimentary copy of “Supporting Non-Proficient Adolescent Readers” can be downloaded at https://www.lexialearning.com/resources/white-papers/supporting-non-proficient-adolescent-readers?utm_source=press-release&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=AdLitWPPR.
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About Lexia Learning
Lexia Learning, a division of Rosetta Stone, empowers educators through adaptive assessment and personalized instruction. For more than 30 years, the company has been on the leading edge of research and product development as it relates to student reading skills. With a robust offering that includes solutions for differentiated instruction, personalized learning and assessment, Lexia Learning provides educators with the tools to intensify and accelerate literacy skills development for students of all abilities. For more information, visit www.lexialearning.com.
About Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE: RST) is dedicated to changing people’s lives through the power of language and literacy education. The company’s innovative digital solutions drive positive learning outcomes for the inspired learner at home or in schools and workplaces around the world.
Founded in 1992, Rosetta Stone’s language division uses cloud-based solutions to help all types of learners read, write, and speak more than 30 languages. Lexia Learning, Rosetta Stone’s literacy education division, was founded more than 30 years ago and is a leader in the literacy education space. Today, Lexia helps students build fundamental reading skills through its rigorously researched, independently evaluated, and widely respected instruction and assessment programs. For more information, visit www.rosettastone.com.
“Rosetta Stone” is a registered trademark or trademark of Rosetta Stone Ltd. in the United States and other countries.
