Reading & Other Learning Disabilities

From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities

A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis

A direct mail advertisement from Rutgers University Continuing Studies promised that its summer reading programs would quickly “turn poor readers into good readers.” This promise disturbed me, as did the letter’s other promises:

• “Your child will become a strong, independent reader, build confidence, and become more successful in school.”
• “Your child will complete reading assignments more quickly and easily, be more successful in school, and become a strong, enthusiastic reader.”
• “Your son or daughter will complete homework assignments quickly and easily, get better grades, and become a more motivated student.” (Underlining and bold font added.)

As someone with a doctorate in reading, state certification as a reading specialist, learning consultant, and special education teacher, a long history of teaching graduate courses in reading disabilities and special education, a long history of publishing and reviewing journal manuscripts, a long history of working with poor readers, I knew of no program that could transform poor readers into good ones in part of a summer. And I wondered about the ethics of promising. I knew of no program with a 100% success rate. The more I thought about this, the more I worried about the children.

I followed up with a call to the phone number in the direct mail advertisement and learned that a private company, not Rutgers, would provide the instruction, that children would attend classes for a total of 10-hours, that classes could have up to 20 children, that classes cost parents $329, and teachers did not need graduate degrees in reading. Because helping poor readers become good ones often takes years of intensive work in small reading groups or 1-1 tutoring by reading specialists—and even then outcomes are uncertain—my worries intensified. I thought that Rutgers’ promises sounded false, very false. I was afraid the Rutgers program might harm poor readers.

So twice in early June I e-mailed two Rutgers’ Vice Presidents for Continuing Studies, asking for data supporting the ability of the Rutgers’ 10-hour programs to turn poor readers into good ones. To date, they have not acknowledged my request. This makes me wonder if such data exist or if the programs have even a scintilla of merit, especially as one of the Vice Presidents e-mailed that for many years the program has had great success, but provided no data. (I thought: If this program is so successful, if a 10-hour program could turn poor readers into good ones, schools could quickly eliminate most reading problems and save millions, perhaps billions of dollars annually. Probably another false miracle in education.)

Given Rutgers’ lack of response to my request for data, I’ll have to become more public about my concerns and take additional steps.  If anyone knows a reporter who would like to do a story that, if I’m right, might prevent harm to “poor readers” and their families, please ask him or her to e-mail me at howard@reading2008.com. I can share more information, including information about many other university continuing education units that appear to be offering the same 10-hour program, from the same company.

Note: The Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education and its program in Literacy Education have stated clearly that they are not involved with the summer reading program discussed in this post.

HM © Reading2008 & Beyond

www.reading2008.com

howard@reading2008.com

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A Note on Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds (www.reading2008.com)

Psychology Today.com recently wrote that Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds was one of the three “best books about education published in 2010. Recommend [it] to your friends.” On our blog, an author and English teacher wrote that Beating the Odds “is one of the best books, if not the best book on education published this year.”  A Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism called it “a great book.” A parent wrote, “Your Reading Disabilities book is by far the best resource I have found regarding the IEP and IDEA and providing understandable and concrete suggestions and implementation strategies.” Another wrote, your book is “fascinating and effective.” On Amazon, a professor of special education called it “a fantastic resource… well-written, practical… an essential guide.” The Kansas City Examiner.com cited our blog as one of the ten best special needs blogs of 2010. We thank these and many other reviewers for their kind words.

And we hope that our book and blog helps lots of children, parents, teachers, IEP Team members, and schools. It’s why we keep plugging away. – HM & GB