The Reading Department has been hard at work in the newly designed Reading Foundations Center. 

Classroom Changes

With our existing classrooms, we created two very versatile rooms that include computers around the perimeter and instructional space in the center.  In this way, we are able to conduct more small group instruction that is tailored to specific student needs.

Shared Space

We developed a schedule that allows for us to share these rooms within our department through a weekly room swap.  In this way, ALL Developmental Reading students are given instruction in a computer lab at least one day a week. 

New Technology

The non-computer classrooms have improved technology as well, including individual white boarding systems and short-throw projectors. Also, in order to enhance access to tutoring services, a door will be installed this summer that connects the Reading Foundations Lab (EF4S) to the Academic Skills Center. 

As a result of the FSS Grant and our new Reading Foundations Center, student-to-student, student-to-instructor, and student-to-content interaction is more easily attained in our Reading classes.

Curriculum Changes

We are also working on curriculum changes.  As a way to ensure the transfer of reading skills into other disciplines, we have created a series of classes designed to do just that: teach a student to read within a discipline. 

Here’s how it works 

Students who test into RDG091 will now be allowed to meet the requirement using one of the following:  RDG100, RDG111, RDG112 or RDG113. 

These new Reading classes are NOT sequential.  Rather, they are content specific. 

They are designed to teach the reading skills within a discipline, while students are taking a class in that discipline. 

We are piloting this concept now, and will gather more data in the Fall 2014. 

We are happy to share what we are doing with your departments—please contact us at (480) 461-7025.