They Didn't Give Up: Middle School Success!

Excerpt from Rhoades to Reading: A Successful Middle School Reading Program

By Tonianne Merante

California Middle School News Vol.20 No4

I’m happy to have this class.

Thank you for helping me this year.

I feel great about myself. I’m very happy.

Now that I have been in this class, I have been doing my homework.

I feel great that I got into this class because I’m doing better in my other classes.

Reading/writing success is the class that I like most

Now I can read and write better and don’t have to ask what the words are.

These comments and more were made by students enrolled in the reading/writing success classes that are part of the Rhoades to Reading program.

The classes were formed several years ago in an attempt to help the more that 60 percent of students who were seriously deficient in reading ability, performing two or more years below grade level. These students were not achieving academic success in their content area classes.

A schedule was implemented which allowed time for reading instruction, but we lacked a program which would raise students’ reading levels and be user-friendly for teachers with little knowledge of teaching reading.

The need was answered when the Rhoades to Reading program was …implemented. The program was used with up to 35 students in a class. The positive results were significant.

Note from Jacquie: Thank you to Mrs. Merante and the teachers, staff, and students who worked together to achieve success.

What is Task Analysis?

 

What is Task Analysis?

Task analysis is a systematic analysis of content. Breaking a task into sequential parts leads to a set of clear instructions. The student can then move from point A to point B with a clear roadmap. The instructor has the flexibility of teaching each student, be they an adult or a kindergartner, in an age appropriate manner maximizing instructional time.

In the classroom- Task Analysis is an essential tool for designing lessons, and  Individual Learning Plans.

In the home- Task Analysis can be used to explain to children the basics of living. For example, telling a child to clean his or her room does not always achieve the desired results. Task analyzing the job with the child will not only build thinking skills but help

define a new definition of clean.

Not all students require a detailed sequence; however, if needed, the details are available and at the ready.The application of Task Analysis can be understood by stepping outside traditional academics to consider ways to teach a student to tie his or her shoes.

Examples of shoe tying directions developed by students in one of my college classes are listed below. We all agreed there is not one perfect way to conduct a task analysis and the task analysis varies with each student and group of students.

Student 1- Low Level of Complexity: The first student may simply observe others tie shoes, practice independently, and successfully tie his or her shoes.

Student 2- Medium Level of Complexity: The instructor may need to demonstrate and teach the skill as follows:

1. grab one lace in the left hand and the second in the right hand pull the laces straight up cross the shoelaces

2. pull the front lace around the back of the other pull that lace through the hole

3. tighten the lace with a pull make a bow

4. tighten the bow

Student 3- High Level of Complexity: This student may need a longer version such as the one that follows:

1. grab one lace in the left hand and the second in the right hand pull

2. pinch the end of one lace with the left hand and the other with the right hand

3. pull the laces up in the air

4. put one lace on the right side of the shoe, the second on the left side

5. pick up the lace on the left side with the left hand, pick up the lace on the right side with the right hand

6. pull the laces above the shoe 7. cross the laces to form a tepee

8. the student brings the left lace toward him/her

9. pull the left lace through the tepee pull the laces away from each other and so on….

Whether the task is simple or complex, knowing where you are going and how to get there makes life a lot easier