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SubscribeArizona Teacher Uses Thorndike Press’ Large Print Titles to Help Struggling Readers Succeed
Large Print Reading Program Tied to Higher Test Scores
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., July 11, 2006 – Wesley Yandel’s fifth grade special needs students aren’t afraid to go to the school library anymore. They look forward to reading, and 13 of the 15 children in Yandel’s reading class met or excelled their reading goals for the school year. Thanks to Yandel’s dedication, determination and his large print reading program that utilizes titles by Thorndike Press, an imprint of Thomson Gale, part of the Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) , Yandel’s students are more than just better readers, they’re better students.
“Using large print titles is a big component of the special needs reading program,” Yandel said. “Our librarians can’t keep large print books on the shelf. But even before we encourage our students to read, we have to view them as what they are – children – and not just labels.”
Yandel teaches 15 special needs fifth graders reading, language arts and math at Billy Lane Lauffer Middle School in Tucson, Arizona. At the beginning of the school year, his students were reading at a first or second grade level. Today, most students are reading at a mid-fourth grade level. His students have read 11 novels this year alone.
“I run small experiments in my classroom,” Yandel said. “For example, my students read Bridge to Terabithia this year. Some read it in large print and some read it in regular print. The large print students read better, hands-down.”
Yandel thinks large print books are good for all readers because it takes them to “a comfortable place” where they can feel successful. They turn pages faster and can read a book in less time, making them feel mentally and physically more accomplished.
Yandel will teach his fifth graders through eighth grade so he can monitor their reading progress. He also plans to participate in a five-year study that will compare reading performance of students using large print titles to students in the same grade using regular print titles. Yandel expects to see impressive results.
“My students are taking accelerated reading tests, the same tests all of their classmates take, and are scoring between 80% and 100%,” Yandel said. “Some kids were non-readers when I started with them, but now are reading a 55-page short book in 45 minutes. When reevaluations are done, it’s possible they will be assimilated into a regular classroom.”
Yandel has seen changes in other areas of his students’ performance besides reading. Many of his students use a sixth or seventh grade math textbook. His class attendance has increased, and even though many of his students are considered behavioral problems, Yandel reports no incidences of disciplinary measures.
“These students are no longer feeling frustrated with the educational process, so they’re not acting out, “ Yandel said. “You can see it in their eyes now – they have more confidence and they’re doing better in all classes.”
Yandel, who has been a special needs and reading teacher for 13 years and holds Master’s degrees in special needs and mathematics education, encourages teachers to feel confident asking their students to perform at a level beyond what they think they can achieve.
“I hold my expectations high and I keep them high,” Yandel said. “The kids will rise to those expectations. This is success breeding more success.”
For more information on Thorndike Press or to schedule an interview with Wesley Yandel, contact Vanessa Birch at vanessa.birch@cengage.com.About The Thomson Corporation and Thomson Gale
The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), with 2005 revenues of $8.70 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to more than 20 million users in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference information, corporate e-learning and assessment, scientific research and healthcare. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson has approximately 40,000 employees and provides services in approximately 130 countries. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). Thomson Gale™ ( http://www.gale.com/) serves the world’s information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats – books and eBooks, databases and microfilm.
