Not bad. That’s the assessment we have of the first-ever results for the Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD-3) testing for Goshen third-graders.
On average, about 80 percent of all third-graders passed. Whenever 80 percent of any population passes an education standard, that’s a pretty good result. Yet, we still believe there are challenges in seeing even more students becoming proficient in reading.
Being able to write, and also read what is written on a page, computer or smartphone screen, are the foundations on which all education rests. Reading skills come early in the education process, as pre-schoolers and kindergartners learn their ABCs, they are learning to read — that means they are learning to associate printed shapes of type with different sounds that when strung together form words. And each word has a different meaning, and sometimes the same word has several meanings. The nuances of words are learned early, both from the written word and the spoken word. And the more exposure to these forms of communication seems to enhance the learning and comprehension of youngsters.
Families play a crucial role in moving children toward reading success. When Mom and Dad read a lot, they often give their children books and magazines as a form of entertainment. Trips to the public library are common for these types of families. While parents are having fun learning new things through reading, or just enjoying a good yarn in a novel, they are establishing a tradition for their children that will help those children achieve their goals in whatever occupation they seek as adults.
But not all families embrace reading. That’s why we urge the Goshen Community Schools staff to continue to seek out volunteers who can help our children learn to read. Volunteers give a lot of their time to the school system now, filling the reading advocate role for children who need a couple of hours or extra reading instruction while they are at school.
This was the first year for the IREAD-3 results, so we can only speculate where the scores will go from here. But with the dedicated Goshen teaching staff, involved parents and a cadre of volunteers working together with second- and third-graders, we believe scores can improve in the coming years.
Opinion
Goshen reading scores not bad for first effort
- Opinion
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Council makes a smart move on tax breaks
The Goshen City Council’s adoption of a tax phase-in policy for local governments will help bring uniformity to a competitive process that has pitted local governments against each other.
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Like it or not, Sheriff is going to speak freely
Elkhart County Sheriff Brad Rogers has taken heat the past couple weeks after he commented during a political rally in downtown South Bend that he would not enforce proposed future gun-control legislation within his jurisdiction.
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Goshen neighborhood stands together on north side
Sometimes a news photographer is at the optimum location at exactly the right time. Goshen News staffer Sam Householder was in such a spot Wednesday.
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We just can’t thank our moms enough
The purpose of this editorial is quite simple. We just want to say, “Thanks, mom.” And by “mom” we mean all of the great mothers in our community who have gone above and beyond to lead the way in the development of their children.
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Letter carriers help to Stamp Out Hunger
There’s still time to help someone you probably don’t know.
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Farmers are positive this will be the year
Farmers and Cub fans have something in common. They are eternally positive and expect a better season next year.
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It's time to spruce up the Maple City
This is the season and today is the day, finally.
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Smooth sailing for this year’s regular session
The final gavel has fallen on the 2013 regular session of Indiana’s General Assembly. During the 14-week session, our lawmakers passed nearly 300 pieces of legislation, including the state’s $30 billion biennial budget that contains the largest tax cut in state history.
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Palm Sunday tornadoes a reminder of sudden danger
It was a beautiful day, most people around these parts who can remember will tell you. It was one of those near-perfect, early spring days, they would likely say, a stark contrast to what early evening would bring on April 11, 1965.
Yes, the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1965, is still very vivid in our local history five decades later. Those were days before Doppler Radar, 24-7 cable television, countywide siren warning systems and even seatbelts in most cars. So, when afternoon turned to early evening, many local residents had little or no warning that killer tornadoes were nearly on top of them. -
Graduation is always a great achievement
While many of us have been waiting patiently – some not so patiently – for spring to finally show up in Northern Indiana, students throughout the area have been busy working on term papers, taking tests and ordering caps and gowns.
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