What's New for June 2009

New Beginning Reading Intervention Report (June 30, 2009)
See how the WWC rated the research on Lexia Reading, a computerized reading program that provides phonics instruction and gives students independent practice in basic reading skills.

Two New Quick Reviews Available (June 30, 2009)
The first review evaluates a study that examined whether having a teacher with National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification improves student achievement. The second looks at a study that assessed whether participating in the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program improved the educational and other outcomes of at-risk youth.

New Quick Review: Student Mentoring Program Study (June 23, 2009)
The latest quick review from the WWC evaluates a study of the Student Mentoring Program (SMP), a federal grant program that matches participants with an adult or peer mentor to discuss academics, relationships, and future plans.

WWC Reviews Research on ELL Intervention (June 16, 2009)
Read this report on Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP), a framework for planning and delivering instruction in content areas such as science, history, and mathematics for English language learners. Using the SIOP framework, teachers modify the way they teach so that the language they use to explain concepts and information is comprehensible to these students.

New Early Childhood Report Looks at Bright Beginnings (June 9, 2009)
Bright Beginnings is a curriculum consisting of nine thematic units designed to enhance children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Each unit includes concept maps, literacy lessons, center activities, and home activities. Parent involvement is a key component of the program.

Updated Doors to Discovery Intervention Report Released (June 9, 2009)
See the updated Doors to Discovery early childhood education report, available online now. Doors to Discovery focuses on the development of children's vocabulary and expressive and receptive language through a learning process called "shared literacy," where adults and children work together to develop literacy-related skills.

WWC Releases First Adolescent Literacy Intervention Report (June 2, 2009)
This report looks at SuccessMaker, a set of computer-based courses used to supplement regular classroom reading instruction in grades K-8. The studies in this WWC review looked at 9 to 16 year old students. Using adaptive lessons tailored to a student's reading level, SuccessMaker aims to improve understanding in areas such as phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and concepts of print.

Three New Quick Reviews Released (June 2, 2009)
Three new quick reviews are now available: the first rates a study of comprehensive teacher induction programs; the second review looks at a study that assessed the long-term effects of the Seattle Social Development Project; and the third rates a study on using supplemental literacy classes to improve the reading skills of struggling ninth-grade readers.