The Orange County Literacy Project was created in response to the low literacy rates among middle and high school students as well as secondary teachers' lack of experience in helping develop literacy skills. The program includes a 90-minute literacy block that replaces language arts and one elective class. During the block, participating students have whole-group instruction, which includes reading-aloud; shared reading; and direct instruction in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar. Then, the class divides into three small groups where students concentrate on independent reading, instructional reading via the Peabody Learning Lab, and small group work with the teacher. The remainder of the day is spent attending their regularly scheduled classes.

The program starts with a staff development program for all teachers, technology support staff, and administrators. The multi-year training program introduces staff to the project software, literacy teaching techniques, and a supportive learning community with collegial networking, and class visitations by colleagues. The program offers sessions not normally offered in training curricula, such as "The First Two Weeks," in which teachers create the community of learners, practice the new classroom routines, organize the classroom materials, decide when and how to introduce the Peabody Learning Lab, and form student groups.

Student outcomes have improved significantly due to the Orange County Literacy Project. Participating students increased reading comprehension scores on the Stanford Achievement Test from 2.6 to 3.6 and in two years raised their GPAs by 2.2 points. Significant gains in reading were found for special education students and second language learners.

Contact:

Orange County Public Schools
445 West Amelia Street
Orlando, Fl. 32801
http://www.ocps.k12.fl.us/

Article: Taylor, Rosemarye. "Creating a System That Gets Results for Older, Reluctant Readers." Phi Delta Kappan. Sept 2002.