Wednesday, August 29, 2007
PBS reading series features two Fort Worth ISD schools
Email
|
Print
|
Tell us your story
|
Comment
|
A new season of the public television series “Reading Rockets” will feature two Fort Worth ISD elementary schools and highlight their efforts to address the reading challenges facing children with disabilities.
“A Chance to Read,” hosted by actress Molly Ringwald, is part of the award-winning series “Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers.” Produced by WETA in StateplaceWashington, D.C, the series looks at how children learn to read, why so many struggle and what we can do to help.
Fort Worth ISD schools are featured in a segment called “Untapped Potential," which examines students at Versia Williams elementary school and Westcliff elementary school. Both are part of a federally-funded research project by Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Institute for Reading Research that focuses on alternative teaching methods to help students with disabilities learn to read.
According to Dr. Patricia Mathes, TI Endowed Chair in Reading Research & Professor at SMU and the study’s lead researcher, many schools have low expectations for children with cognitive disabilities.
“People often make assumptions about what these kids are capable of doing,” she says in the program. “I call that ‘assumicide,’ because they make an assumption that they’re not capable, and then they never try.”
The research team has placed specially trained teachers in schools across the Fort Worth ISD. One of the teachers, Karen Britton, is featured in the program with her students at Versia Williams, and another teacher, Bea Jolly, appears in the program with students at Westcliff. The “Untapped Potential” section of the program highlights how the study approaches teaching cognitively disabled students and shows how the students respond to the instruction.
The program is available for viewing online at www.readingrockets.org/shows/launching/chance.
“A Chance to Read” airs on KERA on Sunday, September 2, 2007, at 8:30 a.m.
See more stories in:
Find...
Today
McCain vs. Obama Debate Watching Party I know what you want to do with your wednesday. Drink wine and split hairs over politics. I challenge you to take a swig every time someone utters the word "change." (If you accept my challenge, please have a sober driver with you.) Image by oceandesetoiles. More info
Blogs
- Deli-cious irony
Square Pegs - I so wish we had laser eyes
Square Pegs - Why I think the ecomomy is even scarier than I thought
Square Pegs
Latest comments
- Jason Rice on Texas man attempting to lessen Latino obesity: You know them d*mned minority slavs - think it’s all about “inclusivity” and all that rot....
- Scott Doyle on Anonymous flaming object torches bedroom of Arlington house: *”It was what we call a one-room burn out,” Niederhaus said.* Sounds like one helluva technical inve...
- Scott Doyle on Texas man attempting to lessen Latino obesity: Pavel, I thought you paid better attention than this. Asking *Latina Lista* to be objective is like ...
- TravisRex on Rick Yost and the Sofa Kings : Not really, I didn’t have any spare change.....
Latest reviews
- 5065 on Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant: I just came back from their lunch buffet and felt that they deserve a pat on the back for the good e...
- David Gouldin on Kebab and Kurry Indian Restaurant: The first warning sign: a banner outside the restaurant advertising their lunch buffet at $[redacted...
- gilberto on Mumtaz Indian Restaurant & Bar: The location seemed a bit confusing as there is many indian restaurants in the same area. When I rea...


Post a comment
(Requires free PegasusNews.com account.)