Fast ForWord®

Best Practices for Administrators

Sherrelle Jiggitts WalkerChief Education Officer

Scientific Learning CorporationBC Circle of Learning 10-23-09

Best Practices for Successful Administrators

1) Set the Plan

2) Schedule Professional Development

3) Set the Schedule

4) Create the Learning Environment

5) See the Results

Set the Plan

A) Assess School Needs– Which groups of students will benefit most from the products?– What results do you hope to see?

B) Assess Student Needs– Reading below grade level?– Need stronger language or reading skills?– Have difficulty communicating and following directions

Set the Plan

C) Determine Product Sequence/Protocols– 30-minute, 40-minute, 50-minute,

90-minute protocols

D) Specify Goals– Identify goals for students– Plan to communicate goals to everyone

involved– Set a plan to determine if/when the goals

were reached

Scheduling Pre- and Post- Assessments

• School/District Assessments– STAR Early Literacy, STAR Reading – DIBELS Assessments– Gates-McGinitie– End of Grade Exams

• Reading Progress Indicator

• Observational Surveys– Parent, Teacher and Student forms available– Print and Electronic versions

Best Practices for Successful Implementation

1) Set the Plan

2) Schedule Professional Development

3) Set the Schedule

4) Create the Learning Environment

5) See the Results

Schedule Professional Development

Initial Training for Fast ForWord Coach– How the Exercises in each product work– How to set up the Data Manager– Daily Steps for Lab Management– Accessing Progress Tracker Data– Monitoring student results– Intervention Strategies

Roles of the Lab Coach

• Has good working knowledge of computers and performs daily tasks

• Regularly ensures that each computer station is functional and ready for use

• Prepares students to use Fast ForWord products

• Offers praise to students for their behavior, participation, and progress

Roles of the Lab Coach

• Provides assistance using demonstration exercises or appropriate intervention strategies

• Shares progress and results with students, teachers, administrators, parents

• Seeks technical or instructional support from Scientific Learning’s Customer Support Center as needed

Schedule Professional Development

Staff and Parent Awareness

• Plan to: – involve teachers– keep administrators informed– engage parents

• Share reports and information to gain support

Best Practices for Successful Implementation

1) Set the Plan

2) Schedule Professional Development

3) Set the Schedule

4) Create the Learning Environment

5) See the Results

Scheduling Considerations

1) Number of computers

2) Protocol being used

3) Time for transition between groups

4) Mixing grade level groups

5) Time for running reports

Sample Schedules

• Group 1- 8:30-9:10• Group 2- 9:15-9:55• Group 3- 10:00-10:40• Group 4- 10:45-11:25

• Group 1- 8:30-9:00

• Group 2- 9:00-9:30

• Group 3- 9:30-10:00

• Group 4- 10:00-10:30

Protocol Choices

Fast ForWord Language Basics

Fast ForWord Language

Fast ForWord Language to Reading

Fast ForWord to Literacy

Fast ForWord to Literacy Advanced

30 min/day 5 days/week 3-6 weeks

30 min/day 5 days/week 12-16 weeks

40 min/day 5 days/week 9-13 weeks

50 min/day 5 days/week 6-10 weeks

90 min/day 5 days/week 4-7 weeks

Best Practices for Successful Implementation

1) Set the Plan

2) Schedule Professional Development

3) Set the Schedule

4) Create the Learning Environment

5) See the Results

Lab or Classroom Equipment

• For Each Student Computer– Stereo Headphones– Y-Adapters

• Environment– Quiet, free of distractions– Welcoming– Motivation & Rewards

Best Practices for Successful Implementation

1) Set the Plan

2) Schedule Professional Development

3) Set the Schedule

4) Create the Learning Environment

5) See the Results

See the Results• Progress Tracker reports

– Email to parents, teachers and administrators

• Reading Progress Indicator results

• Regular alignment of success on other data measures

• Share successes and assessment results in the school community

Track student performance minute-by-minute

Create learner profiles

Track student errors

Communicate student progress

Email and print all reports

Provide administrative reports

The Power of Progress Tracker

Individual Reports• Assessment Results • Progress History• Weekly Achievement• Content Completion • Error Reports

Group Reports• Overview • Percent Complete • Assessment Results• Points

Administrator Reports• School Administrator• School Assessment Results• District Overview• District Demographic• District Assessment Results

Progress Tracker Reports

Ensuring Success

• Monitor regularly

• Intervene immediately

• Motivate with CAPS– Completion– Attendance– Participation– Sequence

To be a

success

you must

work at

success

BC COL - Implications for Adminisrators

More information:

http://bbyfastforword.wordpress.com/

https://scientificlearning.webex.com/scientificlearning/portal/4762

http://www.scilearn.com/

John HopkinsScientific Learning Inc. ISR CanadaPhone: 916-442-5608 jhopkins@scilearn.com