Oklahoma Children’s Reading Scores Slump After Pandemic

New statistics present Oklahoma’s college students suffered setbacks in testing due to college closures in the course of the pandemic.

The Nation’s Report Card stated in 2022, 4th and eighth grade studying scores dropped in most states, with Oklahoma scoring under the nationwide common.

Reading Partners Tulsa stated college students want routine studying follow, and to be surrounded by individuals who might help them develop a wealthy vocabulary, issues the pandemic took away.

Educators stated now’s the time to course right and get college students again on tempo.

“That creates a frustration in the classroom as they’re presented with grade level material that they’re not prepared for and so we’re having to really dial it back and meet them where they are and be able to push them but also meet their gaps and try to address those gaps as needed,” stated Courtney Rodebush, Program Director.

Reading Partners pairs volunteers with college students who’re 6 months to 2.5 years behind of their studying proficiency ranges.

“While our results were not necessarily as high as they’ve been in the past at the end of the year last year, we still saw 89 percent of our students show measurable growth. So, they may have come to us a little bit lower, but they still showed growth,” stated Rodebush.

“I think it’s super exciting to see that light go off in the kids and the program making a difference,” stated Omare Jimmerson, Volunteer & Board President.

Omare Jimmerson stated the pandemic exacerbated the issue.

“Teachers are struggling themselves to be able to give that one-on-one attention cause there’s just too many kids in a classroom, and so I think as a state we need to do a better job of addressing education because it’s what tomorrow will look like for the state,” stated Jimmerson.

Program Director Courtney Rodebush stated college students need to relearn classroom conduct.

“Not having the routine time built in a classroom where there’s reading time to build their stamina and also to build their fluency,” stated Rodebush.

She stated their primary literacy abilities might have suffered enormously. Rodebush stated that is having a ripple impact.

“There’s basically 5 components. Your vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, phonemic awareness and phonics. Phonemic awareness is having our students understand that letters and sounds are associated together and just making the association of words and sounds. Phonics, starting to associate that the letters blended together make words and understanding that those have a correlation. Vocabulary, obviously exposure to a grand amount of vocabulary and the more vocabulary they’re exposed to obviously the better they’re going to be able to decode and understand the story. Comprehension, we’re seeing that with a lot of our older students, they might be able to decode the words and to read fluently but their comprehension skills are lacking because they just haven’t had that enrichment in the classroom. And then obviously fluency, as readers become more and more fluent that aids in their comprehension because as they’re not tripping over the words to decode them it’s easier for them to stop and think about what the words are saying,” stated Rodebush.

Reading Partners Tulsa wants a number of extra group volunteers to assist tutor college students.

You can join by visiting: https://readingpartners.org/