SPRING 2001
Thoughtful, knowledgeable, and
effective educators for a diverse society
SPRING 2001
Thoughtful, knowledgeable, and
effective educators for a diverse society
Marysville and Faculty Team Up
What happens when a school district approaches a faculty member from a regional university and poses an instructional dilemma? Frequently partnerships are formed between the school district and Woodring faculty members.
Following a recent presentation of the results of research on the basic reading skills of struggling 4th graders, Marsha Riddle-Buly, Elementary Education, was approached by Yvonne Ryans, Assistant Superintendent of Marysville School District, with such a dilemma. Ryans inquired about replicating the study with fourth grade students at one of Marysville's unique schools. Although the student population of the school is primarily Native American and the school is located on tribal land, it is not a tribal school but rather a part of the Marysville School District.
The Native American students from this school, like many fourth grade students across our state, are struggling to demonstrate proficiency on the new Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) test. Marsha formed a team of Woodring literacy researchers that included Darcy Bradley, Elementary Education, and Laurence Antil, Special Education, to investigate the basic reading needs of the school's fourth grade students.
Both the school district and Dean Marv Klein provided support to make the study a reality, and permission was granted by the state to have students orally read sections from the fourth grade reading portion of the WASL test which they had taken earlier in the year. The research team analyzed the oral readings for both accuracy and rate of reading. The team also used a battery of assessments that provided diagnostic information on word identification, word attack, rate of reading, vocabulary, strategies, and phonemic awareness of the students.
Since the school was entering its fourth year as a "Success for All" school, the researchers were able to draw from the three years of data collected in the program which included standardized tests of comprehension and vocabulary. The results of the study, along with recommendations on how to improve the fourth graders' reading skills, should be available this summer.
Marsha has expanded her work with the Marysville School District to include several other schools, has made presentations at the district's Learning Improvement Day, and has participated on the district's intervention and staff development committees. If you are interested in further information on Marsha's work with the Marysville School District, please contact her at 360/650-7348, or marsha.riddle.buly@wwu.edu.
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