Fast ForWord
®
Best Practices for Administrators
Sherrelle Jiggitts Walker
Chief Education Officer
Scientific Learning Corporation
BC Circle of Learning 10-23-09
Best Practices for
Successful Administrators
1) Set the Plan
2) Schedule Professional Development
3) Set the Schedule
4) Create the Learning Environment
5) See the Results
Set the Plan
A) Assess School Needs
– Which groups of students will benefit most from the
products?
– What results do you hope to see?
B) Assess Student Needs
– Reading below grade level?
– Need stronger language or reading skills?
– Have difficulty communicating and following directions
Set the Plan
C) Determine Product Sequence/Protocols
– 30-minute, 40-minute, 50-minute,
90-minute protocols
D) Specify Goals
– Identify goals for students
– Plan to communicate goals to everyone
involved
– Set a plan to determine if/when the goals
were reached
Scheduling Pre- and Post- Assessments
• School/District Assessments
–
–
–
–
STAR Early Literacy, STAR Reading
DIBELS Assessments
Gates-McGinitie
End of Grade Exams
• Reading Progress Indicator
• Observational Surveys
– Parent, Teacher and Student forms available
– Print and Electronic versions
Best Practices for
Successful Implementation
1) Set the Plan
2) Schedule Professional Development
3) Set the Schedule
4) Create the Learning Environment
5) See the Results
Schedule Professional Development
Initial Training for Fast ForWord Coach
– How the Exercises in each product work
– How to set up the Data Manager
– Daily Steps for Lab Management
– Accessing Progress Tracker Data
– Monitoring student results
– Intervention Strategies
Roles of the Lab Coach
• Has good working knowledge of computers and
performs daily tasks
• Regularly ensures that each computer station is
functional and ready for use
• Prepares students to use Fast ForWord products
• Offers praise to students for their behavior,
participation, and progress
Roles of the Lab Coach
• Provides assistance using demonstration exercises
or appropriate intervention strategies
• Shares progress and results with students,
teachers, administrators, parents
• Seeks technical or instructional support from
Scientific Learning’s Customer Support Center as
needed
Schedule Professional Development
Staff and Parent Awareness
• Plan to:
– involve teachers
– keep administrators informed
– engage parents
• Share reports and information to gain support
Best Practices for
Successful Implementation
1) Set the Plan
2) Schedule Professional Development
3) Set the Schedule
4) Create the Learning Environment
5) See the Results
Scheduling Considerations
1) Number of computers
2) Protocol being used
3) Time for transition between groups
4) Mixing grade level groups
5) Time for running reports
Sample Schedules
•
•
•
•
Group 1- 8:30-9:00
Group 2- 9:00-9:30
Group 3- 9:30-10:00
Group 4- 10:00-10:30
•
•
•
•
Group 1- 8:30-9:10
Group 2- 9:15-9:55
Group 3- 10:00-10:40
Group 4- 10:45-11:25
Protocol Choices
Fast ForWord Language Basics
30 min/day
5 days/week 3-6 weeks
Fast ForWord Language
30 min/day
5 days/week 12-16 weeks
Fast ForWord Language to Reading
40 min/day
5 days/week
Fast ForWord to Literacy
50 min/day
5 days/week 6-10 weeks
Fast ForWord to Literacy Advanced
90 min/day
5 days/week 4-7 weeks
9-13 weeks
Best Practices for
Successful Implementation
1) Set the Plan
2) Schedule Professional Development
3) Set the Schedule
4) Create the Learning Environment
5) See the Results
Lab or Classroom Equipment
• For Each Student Computer
– Stereo Headphones
– Y-Adapters
• Environment
– Quiet, free of distractions
– Welcoming
– Motivation & Rewards
Best Practices for
Successful Implementation
1) Set the Plan
2) Schedule Professional Development
3) Set the Schedule
4) Create the Learning Environment
5) See the Results
See the Results
• Progress Tracker reports
– Email to parents, teachers and administrators
• Reading Progress Indicator results
• Regular alignment of success on other data
measures
• Share successes and assessment results in the
school community
The Power of
Progress Tracker
 Track student performance
minute-by-minute
 Create learner profiles
 Track student errors
 Communicate student
progress
 Email and print all reports
 Provide administrative reports
Progress Tracker Reports
Individual Reports
• Assessment Results
• Progress History
• Weekly Achievement
• Content Completion
• Error Reports
Group Reports
• Overview
• Percent Complete
• Assessment Results
• Points
Administrator Reports
• School Administrator
• School Assessment Results
• District Overview
• District Demographic
• District Assessment Results
Ensuring Success
• Monitor regularly
• Intervene immediately
• Motivate with CAPS
–
–
–
–
Completion
Attendance
Participation
Sequence
To be a
success
you must
work at
success
BC COL - Implications for Adminisrators
More information:
/
http://bbyfastforword.wordpress.com
https://scientificlearning.webex.com/scientificlearning/portal/4762
http://www.scilearn.com/
John Hopkins
Scientific Learning Inc.
Phone: 916-442-5608
ISR Canada
[email protected]