15 Apr 2016

Greg Brooks’ What Works 5th edition – 2016

by | posted in: Dyslexia, Evidence | 0

What Works for Children and Young People with Literacy Difficulties? The latest edition of Greg Brooks’s review of intervention schemes for children and young people with literacy difficulties is out. (See Greg’s assessment of That Reading Thing here.) That Reading Thing is now included in the Key Stage 3 section with a note that it’s still very appropriate for young people 14 plus and outside the system. I’d like to add that it’s still very much aimed at that older … Read More

19 Mar 2009

Evidence 4 ~ One Story

by | posted in: Evidence, Secondary literacy | 0

One particular line of numbers caught my attention. F 13 05:11 06:05 00:06 5 hrs continuing White British truancy It’s the “Data Story” of a thirteen year old white British girl with truancy issues who struggles with reading and agreed to start meeting with a ThatReadingThing tutor.  I’m going to call her Amber. At their first session, her reading age was 5 years and 11 months which is what we would expect of a child at some point in Year … Read More

19 Mar 2009

Evidence 3 ~ A Second Look

by | posted in: Evidence, Secondary literacy | 0

Here is the same data with a few extra details.  Here are the things I notice: Those with the greatest gains, started with a reading age of 8 or so One of the girls made a 2 year gain in one week.  I would assume that her spelling age is now well behind her reading age. Of the three with the smallest gains, one has English as an additional language and a head injury, one is very new to the … Read More

17 Mar 2009

Evidence 2 ~ Another Project

by | posted in: Evidence, Secondary literacy | 0

These numbers come from an inner city volunteer literacy project.   The reading ages were measured using the Burt Reading Assessment which is available free from here. I’ll add more details about the learners as I get them.  It will be interesting to see who has statemented learning needs, who speaks English as an additional language and who has particular behaviour problems. (Or all three.) A huge thank you to all the tutors and young people for their hard work! Sex … Read More

17 Mar 2009

Evidence 1 ~ Anecdotes & Data

by | posted in: Evidence, Secondary literacy | 0

Both of these arrived via email recently.They both tell their stories in different ways.  I especially love how the anecdote acknowledges the importance of a tutor who won’t give up in the face of resistance.  I would like numbers so much more if they could express those crucial details. Anecdote – from Worth Unlimited in Waltham Forest. …the teacher of the girl I am currently supporting says that TRT, (ThatReadingThing), has had the most impact and taken this particular girl … Read More