The Skills Cards are a great resource. This year I am writing monthly guides for the teachers with suggestions of what to do, and I can see, for example, that if the kids are BB, then the teacher would serve them well by working with them using the BB Skills Card. And, every teacher should make a big chart of the Word Attack Strategies card and use it for shared reading and guided reading
—Supervisor of Elementary Curriculum, NJ
Nowhere [else] have we found the breakdown of comprehension by levels [as in the IRLA].
—Reading Specialist, FL
The IRLA is a magnificent piece of work. No other assessment or program can match its depth and comprehensiveness—and we’ve searched!
—Elementary Principal, FL
I can’t tell you how important it is for classroom teachers to ‘check’ student independent reading levels. From experience and tons of conversations with parents—independent reading MUST be fast, fun and easy. We lose kids quickly when they attempt to read books that are too hard. The most effective way to make sure this is done is to build in teacher/student conference time daily. This way, teachers are able to assess students every day and monitor their just right levels. One of the biggest parts of 100BC that relates directly to students making progress in reading. VOLUME + JUST RIGHT LEVELS + TEACHER/STUDENT FREQUENT CONFERENCES = reading success!
—Peter Stewart, Principal, Horace Mann Elementary School, NY
I can’t tell you how important it is for classroom teachers to ‘check’ student independent reading levels. From experience and tons of conversations with parents—independent reading MUST be fast, fun and easy. We lose kids quickly when they attempt to read books that are too hard. The most effective way to make sure this is done is to build in teacher/student conference time daily. This way, teachers are able to assess students every day and monitor their just right levels. One of the biggest parts of 100BC that relates directly to students making progress in reading. VOLUME + JUST RIGHT LEVELS + TEACHER/STUDENT FREQUENT CONFERENCES = reading success!
—Peter Stewart, Principal, Horace Mann Elementary School, NY
My students are academically achieving more than students I have had in the past. The Research Labs/100 Book Challenge combination allows my learners to read, conference, write, reflect and present on an ongoing basis. I see through relevant assessments and discussions with the students an amazing growth in not only their tremendous amount of stamina, which has helped to develop their reading comprehension and engagement, but the way they can converse on specific topics and utilize appropriate task or thematic vocabulary with ease and nonchalance!
—Danielle Chiaro, 7th Grade Language Arts Teacher, Jersey City School District, NJ
The [assessment] criteria are based on national standards and the Voluntary State Curriculum which aligns with the BCPS curriculum. Teachers determine upward movement. [100 Book Challenge] is a program requiring teacher judgment and assessment and helps me differentiate for students each school day. It provides authentic, not contrived literature, a balance of fiction and nonfiction choices. There is a tremendous amount of research and data over 10 years to support the instructional strategies.
—Teacher, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD