Strategies for College Strategies for College Reading and SuccessReading and Success

Angela HendersonStephanie PiazzaRosalinda Ruiz

Struggling readersStruggling readers49% of incoming college freshmen

in the U.S. are reading below the college level.

In the Fall 2009, approximately 80% of newly enrolled FC freshmen placed into a developmental reading course.

In the Spring 2010, approximately 69% of newly enrolled FC freshmen placed into a developmental reading course.

Additional FactsAdditional Facts“A large number of colleges simply

assume that a passing grade in a general education course implicitly equates to a reading competency,” based on an Academic Senate survey (as cited in Fulks, 2010).

Fulks also notes that, based on national research, “many students graduate with only basic reading skills after an entire general education program.”

How challenging are the How challenging are the texts we assign?texts we assign?The average readability level of a

FC textbook is grade 15.

Struggling readersStruggling readersImagine that you are 18, a

freshman in college, and you read at the 6th grade level.◦Now, imagine reading your assigned

text. What challenges will you face?◦Your students need instruction on

how to tackle your challenging, college-level text.

How would you study-read How would you study-read the text you assign?the text you assign?Examine your text and

brainstorm ideas for how you would study-read it.

Consider your purpose for reading…what will you need to do with this information?◦Does this info comprise 50% of your

grade?◦Do you need to write a paper on it?◦Will you need to summarize the

information in a presentation?

ShowShow your students how to your students how to read your assigned text read your assigned text Preview the text together to

introduce them to its structure.Compose an appropriate

description for your assigned text(s) and ask students to brainstorm ideas for how to read the text effectively.

Expanding this activityExpanding this activityBefore you ask students to

brainstorm ideas for how to study-read your text, you can begin with a more comprehensive, small-group activity.

You can accomplish both tasks in 45 minutes or less.

Expanding this activityExpanding this activityCreate additional “situations”

and have your students work through them in groups. A whole class discussion should follow. This activity helps students realize that they have to employ different study-reading strategies depending on the type of text and their purpose for reading.

BloggingBlogging

• One of the goals of developmental

education is “to develop in each learner

the skills and attitudes necessary for the

attainment of academic, career, and life

goals”

(NADE, 2009).

Blogging: Engaging Students in Reading in a Non-Traditional Environment by Angela Henderson & Mary Bogan, CRLA 2009

Blogging RationaleBlogging Rationale• Blogging takes advantages of

students’ existing digital literacies (Atkins, 2004)

• Blogging engages students in reading and writing in a non-traditional environment

Blogging: Engaging Students in Reading in a Non-Traditional Environment by Angela Henderson & Mary Bogan, CRLA 2009

The Millennial StudentThe Millennial Student• Born between 1982 and 2002• Self-assured about their futures• Talented and hard working• Conventional in their views toward

authority• Tend to respect rules (Elam,

Stratton, & Gibson, 2007)• Familiar with technology (Atkinson,

2004)Blogging: Engaging Students in Reading in a Non-Traditional Environment by Angela Henderson & Mary Bogan, CRLA 2009

Why Add a Blog to Your Why Add a Blog to Your ClassClassLEVEL ONE: Reflective Journal

◦Deeper cognitive processing of the reading material

◦Direct Instruction◦CAT

LEVEL TWO: Commenting◦Creates a learning community◦Allows students to see their peers’

thinking

Sample IdeasSample IdeasMath/Physics: Have students post

his/her instructions on how to do a difficult problem step-by-step

Geography/Chemistry/Biology – Have students post his/her findings after completing a lab assignment

English – Reflect on this week’s text or your writing process

Speech/Political Science/English – Have students take a side in a debate or respond to an article in the newspaper.

Sample Ideas: BasicsSample Ideas: BasicsAfter an exam, post a reflective journal

on◦ How they studied for the test◦ How they think they did on the exam◦ What they would do differently

Summarize an assigned portionWhat portion of the reading was difficult?

Why?Muddiest Point from LectureExam questions using Bloom’s

TaxonomyAdvice to Future Students

What I Like About What I Like About BloggingBlogging• Good entry into Web 2.0 technologies• Content control• A room of their own• Creativity• Sense of audience• Insight into students• Opportunity for your students to see you

as a “real” person• Benefits of reflective journaling

Blogging 101: Focusing our Mission & Guiding Principles into Practice by Mary Bogan, CRLA 2010.

Benefits to the InstructorBenefits to the InstructorFlexibleManageableEnlightening

Blogging: Engaging Students in Reading in a Non-Traditional Environment by Angela Henderson & Mary Bogan, CRLA 2009

ReferencesReferencesCRLA conference, Fall 2009Ken Meehan, FC researcher/data

collectorAmerican College Testing @

www.act.org