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By now you have probably heard someone say something about the “universal screening” at Beaufort Elementary. All of the kids were given several one minute tests of basic skills. The tests, or probes, were given on three different days to each child. This was so we could be sure our results were accurate.
We were able to compare each child’s score on each basic skill with our school, class, and state averages for this time of year. For example, we can compare the number of addition facts our students can do in one minute with the average student in North Carolina. We are also able to see how our students are able to do on reading sight words in a minute and compare the results with their classmates, their grade level at this school and their peers across the state.
Why is this important? What difference does it make how many words your child can read in a minute? Should we really be concerned if other children are averaging fifty multiplication facts in a minute and your child averages thirty facts in a minute?
The answer is that a child must develop “automaticity” in basic skills in order to be able to do higher level comprehension activities. In other words, your child must be able to do basic skills such as reading common words without thinking about how to read the words. If a child cannot read basic words automatically, he or she will struggle with reading comprehension. If he is not able to solve basic math facts automatically, he will have a hard time solving word problems.
Think of it like driving a car. You have probably practised driving so much that you are able to think of other things while you drive. You have achieved “automaticity” in your driving so instead of trying to remember how to turn on your turn signal, you are able to focus on other, more complicated tasks such as remembering to stop by the bank on the way home to get some cash for the movie you are going to see next week. You know how to find a favorite restaurant without even really thinking about it. But if you did not practice and you did not have automaticity for basic driving skills, you would spend all of your concentration on very simple tasks such as giving a turn signal and you might be very likely to have an accident.
When a child achieves automaticity for basic facts, he or she has a very important advantage in the classroom. By about the third grade, we expect a child to be using reading as a tool for learning other information. Instead of “learning to read” your child needs to be “reading to learn” and she cannot accomplish this effectively if she doesn’t have automaticity in reading basic words.
Help your child achieve this very critical skill by practicing with him. For children who are struggling with automaticity, our teachers sent home a letter with an attached list of words or facts for the child to study and practice. Try timing your child and see how many words or facts he or she can do in a minute. Make a game of it and help your child to beat his or her own time. Keep the words and facts in your car so you can practice whenever you have a few minutes. For more ideas, check on the school website or talk with the teacher. Together we can help all of our children improve basic skills!
Vicki
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