WebQuest

LITERACY QUEST

A WebQuest for Teachers K-12 Across the Curriculum

H. T. Smith
avalonreading@yahoo.com

Introduction

The town of Dysreadia’s reading scores on standardized tests are plummeting. Members of the administration are considering a change in their literacy program and revitalization of the teacher training and professional development for reading.

1. You are members of a Literacy consultation team that has been studying the new federal grant: Reading First and scientific research based literacy programs.

2. Your team has been asked to compete for an appointment as literacy consultants to Dysreadia. Your job is to thoroughly explain Reading First and the requirements of a scientific research based literacy program in order to support your potential consulting appointment and justify the purchase of a new literacy series.

3. If you are hired, you will be asked to create and implement professional development for the district.

The Task

Your team will prepare a presentation on literacy – Reading First and scientific research based literacy programs. If you are hired, you will be asked to provide and implement professional development in the area of reading instruction.

1. Provide an excellent and thorough job with your presentation so you get hired by the town of Dysreadia as literacy consultants.

2. Thoroughly present the components of a scientific research based literacy program that complies with the federal grant for Reading First;

3. Research, organize, and summarize the components of Reading First and present in power point for the school board.

The Process

1. You and your teammates have been offered to bid on a literacy consultation job with the town of Dysreadia. Dysreadia’s standardized reading scores have been dropping over the past 5-10 years and they are looking for ways to improve their reading programs and their scores on national and state testing.

2. Your team will have six people. Each of you will read and be familiar with the federal and state Reading First grant. Then each one of you will research one aspect of Reading First (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension). One person will have the summation role and will present on the town’s need for a new reading series that complies with Reading First.

THE SEARCH!

No Child Left Behind

http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml?src=pb

National Reading Panel

http://www.nationalreadingpanel.org/Publications/subgroups.htm

READING FIRST

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010910-13.html

http://www.ed.gov/programs/readingfirst/index.html

http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/reading_first1.html

Phonemic Awareness

http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/reading_first1.html

http://www.nhida.org/interven_phonemic_aware.pdf

Phonics and Word Study

http://www.starfall.com/

http://teacher.scholastic.com/reading/bestpractices/phonics.htm

Fluency

http://teacher.scholastic.com/reading/bestpractices/fluency.htm

http://www.state.nj.us/njded/readfirst/Five/Fluency.shtml

Vocabulary

http://www.state.nj.us/njded/readfirst/Five/Vocab.shtml

http://teacher.scholastic.com/reading/bestpractices/vocabulary.htm

Comprehension

http://www.state.nj.us/njded/readfirst/Five/Comprend.shtml

http://teacher.scholastic.com/reading/bestpractices/comprehension.htm

Summation

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/nov03_websitings.htm

http://www.scottforesman.com/rf/2.html

Professional Development

http://www.nhida.org/pdf/read_professionals.pdf

http://www.scholasticred.com/

http://www.scottforesman.com/profdev/index.html

http://www.sraonline.com/index.php/home/3

For each aspect of Reading First, gather and prepare summation of the most current research on the area.

3. You will prepare information and discussion on practical classroom applications of your Reading First component.

4. You will present the compelling arguments for use of best practices, for your Reading First component, in Dysreadia’s classrooms.

5. You will explain how to use of Reading First research based practices – in your component area – will help Dysreadia improve their reading standardized test performance.

6. The person who is in charge of summation will provide a conclusion that justifies the purchase of a new Reading First compliant reading series.

7. The information will be developed into a power point presentation for Dysreadia’s school board.

Evaluation

	Not Hired 1	May be hired for support 2	Will get the 2nd bid 3	Will win the consultation job 4	Score
Research	The team includes fewer than 5 high-quality examples or pieces of data to support their campaign. Researchers identify, with considerable adult help, 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.	The team includes at least 5 high-quality examples or pieces of data to support their campaign. Researchers identify, with some adult help, at least 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.	The team includes at least 8 high-quality examples or pieces of data to support their campaign. Researchers independently identify at least 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.	The team includes 10 or more high-quality examples or pieces of data to support their campaign. Researchers independently identify at least 4 reasonable, insightful, creative ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.
Information	The team clearly understood the topic in-depth and presented their information forcefully and convincingly. The team did not show an adequate understanding of the topic.	Most information presented in the topic was clear and accurate, but was not usually thorough. The team seemed to understand the main points of the topic and presented those with ease.	Most information presented in the topic was clear, accurate and thorough. The team clearly understood the topic in-depth and presented their information with ease.	All information presented in the topic was clear, accurate and thorough. The team clearly understood the topic in-depth and presented their information forcefully and convincingly.
Use of facts/statistics	Every point was not supported.	Every major point was supported with facts, statistics and/or examples, but the relevance of some was questionable.	Every major point was adequately supported with relevant facts, statistics and/or examples.	Every major point was well supported with several relevant facts, statistics and/or examples.
Sources-Citation	The information is often incorrect OR there are major errors in formatting.	Information in almost all source citations is correct AND there are minor errors in formatting.	Information in all source citations is correct but there are minor errors in formatting.	Information in all source citations is correct and in the format assigned.
Organization	Arguments were not clearly tied to an idea (premise).	All arguments were clearly tied to an idea (premise) but the organization was sometimes not clear or logical.	Most arguments were clearly tied to an idea (premise) and organized in a tight, logical fashion.	All arguments were clearly tied to an idea (premise) and organized in a tight, logical fashion.
Comprehension	The team is unable to accurately answer questions posed by classmates about the topic.	The team is able to accurately answer a few questions posed by classmates about the topic.	The team is able to accurately answer most questions posed by classmates about the topic.	The team is able to accurately answer almost all questions posed by classmates about the topic.
Graphic Organizers, Diagrams, Illustrations, and Power Point Presentation	Graphic organizer or outline has not been attempted. Diagrams and illustrations are not accurate OR do not add to the reader's understanding of the topic.	Graphic organizer or outline has been started and includes some topics and subtopics. Diagrams and illustrations are neat and accurate and sometimes add to the reader's understanding of the topic.	Graphic organizer or outline has been completed and shows clear, logical relationships between most topics and subtopics. Diagrams and illustrations are accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic.	Graphic organizer or outline has been completed and shows clear, logical relationships between all topics and subtopics. Diagrams and illustrations are neat, accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic.
Internet Use	Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.	Occasionally able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.	Usually able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.	Successfully uses suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.
Problem Solving	Does not try to solve problems or help others solve problems. Lets others do the work.	Does not suggest or refine solutions, but is willing to try out solutions suggested by others.	Refines solutions suggested by others.	Actively looks for and suggests solutions to problems.
Working with others	Rarely listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others. Often is not a good team player.	Often listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others, but sometimes is not a good team member.	Usually listens to, shares, with, and supports the efforts of others. Does not cause "waves" in the group.	Almost always listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others. Tries to keep people working well together.
Summarization	The team uses only 1-3 sentences to describe clearly what the article is about.	The team uses several sentences to accurately describe what the article is about.	The team summarizes most of the article accurately, but has some slight misunderstanding.	The team has great difficulty summarizing the article.

Conclusion

You have completed a thorough and superb power point presentation on Reading First and all of its components to the Dysreadia School Board. The school board has approved the purchase of a new reading series that complies with Reading First. The school board has also decided to hire your team as literacy consultants for the schools in Dysreadia. Your team has been asked to create a professional development plan for teacher training and consultation with the new reading series and for the implementation of Reading First in Dysreadia’s school district.

How will your team design a professional development plan? What skills do the teachers of Dysreadia need to help the children’s scores improve? Do you think Dysreadia will be able to change the town name?

Credits & References

Many thanks to L. M. and A. W. for their linguistic inspiration.

Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page