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I have used Scholastic's Reading Counts (formerly Electronic Bookshelf), for 3.5 years at our school. If used PROPERLY (rereading and retesting when one fails a test) reading comprehension definitely increases. I have not done a scientific blind study, but one of our Special Education classes is a strong user of the program. For the past 3 years several of the children have been able to increase their scores on reading tests enough that they "tested out" of the SE program for reading. One boy is now reading at grade level. I have even had more than one begin to enjoy reading, as this is now an area in which he/she can experience success. The most wonderful thing about this program is the joy it has brought to the SE class. At our school the RC program is not "stressed" by reading teachers; it is almost a casual "aside." We do not give material incentives for scores. For past several years I have put child's name on star and the star moves (by 10 point increments) to different areas on my hall chart. About every 2-3 weeks I announce high scores on PA with morning announcements. Sometimes I do highest boy/girl in school, highest by grade level etc. Anyway, the SE class who has "gotten into" RC has had the highest scores in the school ever since we began the program. I think it really boosts their self esteem to be achieving ACADEMICALLY for the first time in their life....and on a program that the "regular" students are using. This year a SE student (new to our school) earned 200+ points. This is the first time anyone at our school earned over 200 points in a school year. I wish you could have seen his face on award day. I think the programs that do not allow retesting would not be as effective, but that is an opinion. I base my opinion on the concept that rereading to increase understanding is how one gets better. Reading another book will make us better readers, but not necessarily increase comprehension skills. In you do a task once and either pass or fail how do you get better? --We don't play piano piece ONCE, catch ball once, practice multiplication once etc. -- Mary Croix Ludwick ludwick@swbell.net (home) ludwickm@lisd.net(school) Librarian, Owen Elem.,The Colony, Texas Lewisville ISD(north of Dallas) K-5 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=