Davenport Community Schools Participates in Conference to Learn About the Latest Information in Brain Research and Reading
Local teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators gain information and strategies
1/12/09
Media Contact:
Sherry Wilson
New Teacher Induction and Mentoring Facilitator/
Fast ForWord Project Facilitator K-12
Davenport Community Schools
563-326-4432
wilsons@mail.davenport.k12.ia.us
Davenport, Iowa - Jan. 12, 2009 -Late last Fall, a team of teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators from Davenport Community School District (DCSD) joined educators from across the country to learn about the latest in brain research and reading, and gain new strategies to successfully implement the Scientific Learning Fast ForWord® and Reading AssistantTM family of products in their schools. Presented by Scientific Learning Corp., the 2008 National Circle of Learning conference was held Nov. 13-14 in San Antonio, Texas.
The Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant products are scientifically-proven reading intervention programs that strengthen brain processing and literacy skills to increase reading proficiency in students of many ages. Based on 30 years of neuroscience and cognitive research, the software unifies proven curriculum with brain fitness exercises that build the cognitive skills required to read and learn effectively.
Davenport Community Schools first implemented the Fast ForWord software in fall 2007 and Reading Assistant in spring 2008 to improve achievement among struggling readers at the elementary and secondary levels. The district now uses Fast ForWord software in eight preschool centers, eight elementary schools, one intermediate school and all district high schools, including one alternative high school. It also applies Reading Assistant in all three high schools. Teachers, parents, and students alike have observed many successes across the board.
During the two-day conference, DCSD participants attended keynote sessions on "Building Better Brains" and "Learning to Read," as well as several targeted learning sessions. These comprehensive, interactive sessions addressed topics such as: strategies for supporting English language learners (ELL), the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), hands-on "make and take" interventions, and effective integration and implementation strategies for the Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant programs.
Davenport educators also presented a session on the District's Children's Village early learning program which incorporates the Fast ForWord software. Children's Village offers formal preschool classes for 2, 3 and 4-5 year old children, and has received recognition as a FINE (First in the Nation in Education) award winner. FINE is an Iowa program that recognizes excellence and quantifiable results in a given curriculum.
"The conference provided an amazing opportunity for our district Fast ForWord team to expand and enhance their knowledge and expertise regarding the Fast ForWord program," said Sherry Wilson, Fast ForWord project facilitator for DCSD. "The learning sessions were superb and offered a vast array of pertinent topics that perfectly aligned with our learning goals. We're sharing our conference learning with other members of our district Fast ForWord team which will help strengthen our focus on continuous improvement."
In addition to Wilson, DCSD participants included general education and special education teachers, paraeducator Fast ForWord lab coaches, building administrators, and district specialists in exceptional education, Title I, technology, and learning information services.
About Scientific Learning Corp.
Scientific Learning creates educational software that accelerates learning by improving the processing efficiency of the brain. Based on more than 30 years of neuroscience and cognitive research, the Fast ForWord® family of products provides struggling readers with computer-delivered exercises that build the cognitive skills required to read and learn effectively. Scientific Learning Reading AssistantTM combines advanced speech recognition technology with scientifically-based courseware to help students strengthen fluency, vocabulary and comprehension to become proficient, lifelong readers. The efficacy of the products has been established by more than 550 research studies and publications. For more information, visit www.scientificlearning.com or call toll-free 888-452-7323.
About Davenport Community Schools
With 35 separate sites serving nearly 17,000 students in the communities of Blue Grass, Buffalo, Davenport and Walcott, Davenport Community Schools is the third largest school district in Iowa. The district offers resources and range of curricular offerings to create a customized learning environment for all students. Elementary schools have a strong, hands-on learning program to encourage curiosity and independent discovery. Intermediate schools approach each student with an understanding of the affect of adolescence on student learning styles. The senior high schools offer an array of learning choices for students who have a variety of lifetime goals.
See all press releases