T T Traveling Zero to One Traveling Zero to One li li Z Z t t O O Thousand Within a Thousand Within a Thousand Within a Thousand Within a School Zone School Zone Visual Learning/Development in a Visual Learning/Development in a Group Setting within an Inner City Group Setting within an Inner City p p g g y y School School
My Story • My daughter had a very difficult time learning how to read and doing her homework • I became a Reading Recovery Teacher to help my daughter. to help my daughter.
Reading Recovery • Researched based program for first grade R h d b d f fi t d students who are reading in the lowest 20% of the class. of the class. • The program was founded in New Zealand p g by Marie Clay. • “Follow the Child” in formatted lesson structure
Working on Masters • “No, I will not be able to take on any “N I ill t b bl t t k choreography projects.” • “If you can’t help me and you’re learning about reading, you need to check out vision g, y therapy. It really helped my son.” • The more my friend told me about her son, the more it sounded like my daughter.
Mother on a Mission • Searched the internet S h d th i t t • Discovered that students with an IEP can Discovered that students with an IEP can qualify for a vision therapy referral. • The counselor referred my daughter as a professional courtesy, but she told me I was y wrong.
Driven Tenacious Mother • I called the vision therapy office everyday at I ll d th i i th ffi d t lunchtime for 6 weeks. • They lost the paperwork three times. * Called the school and spoke with the counselor who thought I was wrong, to g g resubmit the paperwork three times.
Results • Daughter diagnosed with many areas of D ht di d ith f unskilled vision. • Big apology from school. • Daughter received 24 weeks of vision therapy • Changed her academic life. • “I like reading now.”
The Decision • I could not decide whether or not to write my I ld t d id h th t t it thesis on music and literacy, because I write literacy songs; or literacy songs; or vision therapy. • My daughter said, “Mom your songs are nice and fun, but vision therapy taught me how to read. d
Hypothesis • The coupling of vision education and researched based academic instruction will accelerate reading achievement.
Setting • The study took place at John F. Kennedy Th t d t k l t J h F K d School in San Diego. • Low socioeconomic Inner city school • 800 students: 55% Hispanic, 40% African American, 5% Other
Participants • All enrolled mainstream first grade All ll d i t fi t d classrooms • All listed as candidates for the Reading Recovery program (lowest performing) y p g ( p g) • Total of 16 students participated in this study
Breakdown of Participants G Group I Post Reading Recovery I P t R di R Students Group II Congruent Reading Recovery and Vision Education Students and Vision Education Students Group III Group III Vision Education Only Vision Education Only (On the waiting list for RR) Group IV Vision Education Only (Special Ed)
Procedures • Catalyst Solutions Vision Screening g Vision Activities • Four 30min vision sessions a week • Four 30min vision sessions a week • Tap dance and singing on Friday
Vision Activity Sessions • 10 min. vestibular exercises 10 i tib l i ( cross crawls, trees in the wind) • 5 min. auditory sequencing (poem) • 10 min. fun vision exercise (Catalyst) • 5 min. eye movement control (Catalyst Scanning for Symbols Scanning for Symbols,
Tap Dance Fridays • Balance • Crossing midline • Sequence • Eye body coordination • Peripheral vision moving through space • Directionality • Stimulation of the nervous system
Data Analysis • Eye Movement Control How many lines scanned in 1mim accurately * Text reading level improvement * Time require for improvement
Reading Levels • Average of each group 14 12 12 10 8 Group1 G 1 6 Group 2 Group 3 4 Group 4 Group 4 2 0 Reading Reading Gains Pre Post
Eye Movement Control • Average of each group 16 14 14 12 10 Group 1 Group 1 Group 2 8 Group 3 6 Group 4 4 4 2 0 Pre Post Gains
Total Weeks in Reading g Recovery Program • Only groups 1 and 2 received RR 20 18 18 16 14 12 12 Group 1 10 Group 2 8 Group 3 (2) 6 6 4 2 0 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr
Other Discoveries • Classical Music improved focus • Physical rocking behavior stopped with onset of dance instruction • This student has be caught singing and d dancing in the corners of the classroom. i i th f th l
Conclusion of Study • The coupling of vision education and solid Th li f i i d ti d lid researched based pedagogy proved to be the most effective practice with struggling the most effective practice with struggling readers. • Eye movement activities must be included in a balanced literacy program during small group/ guided reading instruction group/ guided reading instruction.
Conclusion of Study cont. • Vision Instruction and Vision Therapy is y the vehicle that will take struggling students, from 0 to 1000 in the shortest amount of time
Challenges for Parents Challenges for Parents Challenges for Parents Challenges for Parents Ignorance Ignorance Ignorance Ignorance Lack of understanding Lack of understanding No Transportation No Transportation No Transportation No Transportation Other Major Issues Other Major Issues Spouse incarcerated Spouse incarcerated Spouse incarcerated Spouse incarcerated Health Problems Health Problems Homeless Homeless Homeless Homeless Spousal Abuse Spousal Abuse
M Ch ll My Challenge to You t Y • Adopt a School • Start a outreach program • Fund a nonprofit educational organization to bring about awareness awareness • Think creatively outside of the box Think creatively outside of the box
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