Curriculum Report Roundup

Research Report: Reading

By Debra Viadero — December 08, 2009 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A study in the most recent issue of the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk has found that kindergartners in a comprehensive phonics-based reading program called Superkids outperformed their counterparts in more-typical classrooms on standardized reading tests.

Once marketed by Addison-Wesley, the Superkids curriculum is now being distributed by the Rowland Reading Foundation of Middleton, Wis. According to the study, the curriculum is different from most phonics-based programs in that it teaches a wide range of language skills in tandem with reading.

In the study, two researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Geoffrey D. Borman and N. Maritza Dowling, found that pupils in the 23 Superkids classrooms they studied scored higher than 60 percent of their peers in demographically matched classrooms where teachers conducted business as usual. The teachers using the Superkids lessons also rated their curriculum more highly than did teachers using regular curricula.

A version of this article appeared in the December 09, 2009 edition of Education Week as Reading

Events

Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Federal Webinar The Trump Budget and Schools: Subscriber Exclusive Quick Hit
EdWeek subscribers, join this 30-minute webinar to find out what the latest federal policy changes mean for K-12 education.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
End Student Boredom: K-12 Publisher's Guide to 70% Engagement Boost
Calling all K-12 Publishers! Student engagement flatlining? Learn how to boost it by up to 70%.
Content provided by KITABOO

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Curriculum How to Teach Tariffs: 8 Resources and Lessons
Wondering how to broach tariffs with your students? Check out these resources and lesson plans we've gathered.
2 min read
Image of shipping boxes from different countries.
iStock/Getty
Curriculum What Makes Curriculum 'High-Quality'?
Only 1 in 4 school and districts leaders say their administration has an official definition of "high-quality instructional materials."
4 min read
Blurred photo of a math formula with a vector illustration of a woman holding a clipboard and a man holding a notepad. Both appear to be examining the math equation.
iStock/Getty
Curriculum Gulf of America or Gulf of Mexico? How Teachers Are Handling Trump's Name Change
Educators share their views on the Gulf of America name change.
Riley Griffin, of Sedalia, Mo., gets help from teacher Cara Cairer as he works on a paper mâché globe at Heber Hunt Elementary School in Sedalia, Mo., on Feb. 29, 2012.
Riley Griffin, of Sedalia, Mo., gets help from teacher Cara Cairer as he works on a paper mâché globe at Heber Hunt Elementary School in Sedalia, Mo., on Feb. 29, 2012.
Sydney Brink/Sedalia Democrat via AP
Curriculum What Teachers Are Saying About the Lawsuit Against Lucy Calkins and Fountas and Pinnell
Educators on social media had lots to say about the lawsuit filed against the creators of popular reading programs.
1 min read
Photo of children and teacher with books on floor for reading, learning and teaching. Study, school and woman with kids for storytelling, help and fantasy, language and skill development.
iStock/Getty