What matters in our schools?
Most Americans think of reading and writing, mathematics, and science as the foundations of a quality education. What many fail to consider, however, is the importance of reading. Without strong reading comprehension skills, most students struggle with all the other subjects.
Educational excellence
Consider a recent article by Catherine Gewertz, "What High-Scoring Countries Do Right in Math, Reading, 
and Science." In the article, posted on Education Week's "Curriculum Matters" blog, Ms. Gewertz cites newly released figures compiled by Boston College that measure the math, science, and reading scores of students worldwide. The study also provides a profile of which educational practices the highest-scoring countries have in common. Boston College calls these practices a "culture of educational excellence."
Results of the study
The researchers at Boston College started with data from 34 countries, focusing on the fourth-grade level. They narrowed the field by looking at the countries that had achieved the highest level of basic proficiency among their fourth graders. Using this criteria, the researchers identified five top-scoring countries: Finland, Taipei, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Russia. While each of these countries had its own educational strengths and weaknesses, one factor stood out: when teachers worked to improve reading comprehension, student test scores rose across the board. Scores in math and science rose along with those in reading literacy.
What this means for American schools
It's easy to see why a good reading program is essential to student achievement. Consider the following fourth-grade story problem:
Grandma is coming to visit. She's flying from San Francisco CA to Morristown NJ. That's 2,885 miles! If the flight takes five hours, how fast does the plane go?
If a child can't understand the simple sentences above, he can't even begin to approach the math involved. By concentrating on reading comprehension, educators in the U.S. will increase student achievement in every other area.
What this means for YOU
To help your child perform better at math word problems and science, make sure he reads well. For more information how Think Tutoring's reading programs can help the struggling reader, contact us at 973-593-0050.