We're Improving in Math, but...

Stagnant National Reading Scores Lag Behind Math

via NY Times

Being someone who works for a literacy non-profit, it certainly feels like children's literacy needs to be worked on. Many of the children we work with are so far behind. It's like they never learned the proper tools to learn to read i.e. sounding out words, or learning words by recognition, or they are not practicing reading enough (and based on what I've encountered at EW!LA- maybe this is only true for Los Angeles, where there's an influx of ESL students), but many of those who have trouble with reading are from houses that don't speak English. Maybe whatever improvements are being made in reading are being skewed by ESL students? That's probably a stretch, I know.

But then again, according to this article, it is the well to do readers who haven't had much improvement in their scores (in the National Assessment of Educational Progress), but the worst readers have had significant gain. This assessment could jive with one of the causes as to why the reading scores have been so stagnant- students are given the correct tools to learn how to read in the beginning (Bush gave $1 billion a year to his Reading First initiative which focused on lower-level reading skills- this also goes along with findings that word recognition has increased, but reading comprehension has not which is what the NAEP mostly assesses), but they are not challenged later on with more difficult books- not just fiction classics, but also books in science in history. The advanced readers are not reading enough for their scores to improve.

I'm quite surprised that the article did not mention that math/science have really been pushed by schools in recent years which is possibly why there has significant progress in these subjects. I always hear about math/science related events/competitions (never really hear about reading events/competitions at schools?) at schools. I feel as if there has been a focus on math and science because these two subjects are the ones that can produce medical and technological breakthroughs or advancements- really important things that can lead to longer lives, making certain tasks possible or easier to do. These subjects are the key to the U.S. sustaining their super power status. We are still the number one country when it comes to these things i.e. the rich from foreign countries come to the U.S. to receive treatment when they are ailing; they do not stay in their home country, so it is in the U.S.' best interest to continually support education in these two subject areas, so we can produce the leaders of tomorrow in these fields.

I feel expectations should rise for everyone (poor and good readers), so all demographics can see significant progress. If the U.S. wants to continue to be a super power, they can't settle for stagnant scores, even from their best. Perhaps there should be some initiative that focuses on advanced reading selections for everyone- good and poor readers? This is how I looked at it when it came to grades- always aim for an 'A' because if you fall short, it won't be too short- your effort will be good enough for a 'B' at least.