tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1557533956996103818.post2804213373763154776..comments2010-01-07T19:15:18.205-06:00Tim Shanahanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08524390728872615432noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1557533956996103818.post-35087565035204601982010-01-07T11:24:55.275-06:002010-01-07T11:24:55.275-06:00Hi Tim –<br /><br /> I&#39;m not usually a blogger, but I can&#39;t help it. In this post, you&#39;ve hit on what I see as one of our toughest and most important challenges.<br /><br /> Yes! Adolescents who struggle with basics need lots of help, and they need it urgently. Yes! It must be help that is age-appropriate in pace, design, and &quot;attitude.&quot; And yes! One-on-one instruction is especially important for such students since each of them tends to be missing or confused about something different. On top of a good scope and sequence, these students need an instructor who is sensitive to signs of hesitation or confusion and, equally, to those of secure performance -- these kids have neither time nor patience to dwell on what they&#39;ve already got down. Finally, yes! Wouldn&#39;t it be great if elementary instruction were so infallible that no student, ever again, would find her or himself in this predicament? Unfortunately, that is not likely. Strive as we must to reduce such need, we are unlikely ever to eliminate it.<br /><br />So, no! Don&#39;t dismiss the potential of software so fast! <br /><br />As you know, I&#39;m an author on Scholastic&#39;s System 44. System 44 is especially designed as a &quot;prequel&quot; to Read 180 for just those kids whom you&#39;re talking about. It is designed to boost decoding together with spelling, usage, and vocabulary. Based on pre-test results, System 44 (conservatively) places kids where they need to start working. Then, towards optimizing the pace and maximizing the help, the software continually monitors the students&#39; speed and accuracy so as to dig deeper or move on in deference to their individual needs.<br /><br />As you point out, we know what these kids need in theory; we are obligated to help them in principle; but our schools lack the human capacity to give them the individual time and attention that is required to keep them on task and on track. <br /><br />Really, Tim, this is a textbook case for good software. If the software of yesteryear didn&#39;t do the job for these kids, then the challenge is to develop designs that are new and better.<br /><br />mjaMarilyn Jager Adamsnoreply@blogger.com