Average junior reads at 3rd-grade level

Latest reading assessments showed that most of Hopwood Junior High School students have improved significantly within one year but the fact remains that most of them read below their grade level.

Records showed that in school year 2002-2003, 93 percent of 7th grade students read below their grade level, with the average reader at 3rd-grade level and with more at 2nd and 4th level.

The percentage lowered to 82 percent when the same group of students—now in 8th grade—were tested during the current year.

This year, the average reader in 8th grade is at 5th-grade level.

Overall, the assessment reflected a significant 11-percent improvement in student grade placement in one year—when the school began to fully implement its STAR assessment and Accelerated Reader program.

A normal improvement goal in one year is 7 percent.

Within two years, school authorities project to raise the improvement rate to an average of 22 percent.

Data released by HJHS yesterday showed that from 17 students last year, there are now only six who read below 2nd-grade level, 34 students read at 2nd-grade level (from 65 last year), 68 read at 3rd-grade level (from 93 last year), 72 read at 4th-grade level (from 85 last year).

The assessment also showed there are more students this year who read at 5th- to 7th-grade reading level.

From 79 students in 5th level, it rose this year to 86; from 23 students in 6th level, it is now up to 61 students; and from only 28 students reading at 7th-grade level, the figure increased to 70.

“It’s amazing. Results show significant growth with only one year of full implementation of the program,” said HPJHS reading resource teacher Christine Tudela.

School authorities said this all came about when they invested in a computer-based reading assessment program and a corresponding AR program that monitors students’ reading performance. The program cost $25,000.

Part of the AR program is requiring HJHS language arts students to read between 30 to 60 minutes everyday.

They are also given 15 minutes of reading in every class that is not Language Arts.

AR books, according to HJHS alternative education teacher Christine Halloran, have quizzes so when students are done reading, they take a quiz that will show comprehension results.

The available quizzes, she said, are for AR books for readers with reading levels of 3 and above. She said the school will be ordering more quizzes that will accommodate readers who are below 3 levels. There are about 1,700 quizzes available at the school.

Halloran said the school would need at least $900 at present to purchase needed quizzes for its students.

She said this is one area where the community can help promote reading among students.

She noted that HJHS actually received a total of $4,000 from Mobil Marianas, which the school used to buy books and quizzes.

“We encourage everybody and various organizations, to donate and be part of this wonderful program,” she said.

HJHS teachers said the program is expensive “but it’s very much worth it.”

“When you see students reading in every corner, you’d be amazed. They love reading! They are excited about them being able to read several books and knowing their test results immediately. They are self-motivated. There’s no ‘bribing’ at all,” Halloran said.

Language arts teacher Rory Starkey said the program has turned HJHS students into avid readers, citing that 100 percent of the students have checked out books from the school library.

He said some students are able to read 150 books a year.

Under the program, he said students get to choose their favorite books within their level.