Robert McCabe Vice President and Chief Education Officer Lexia Learning Systems, Inc. rmccabe@lexialearning

1. Robert McCabeVice President and Chief Education Officer Lexia Learning Systems, Inc.rmccabe@lexialearning.com

2. Lexia Company History • Founded in 1984 • Federal Grants from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) • Computerize the Orton-Gillingham pedagogy of reading instruction • Over 20 years building reading software

3. Beneficial Characteristics of CAI in Published Studies • Well suited for individualized supplementary instruction. • Activities can be intrinsically motivating. • Computers provide explicit training. • Consistent fidelity of treatment • Computer assisted instruction has improved accurate word reading. • Speeds up skill acquisition • Extends teacher resources

4. Specific Attributes of Lexia CAI • Excellent practice to reinforce specific skills • Sequenced, systematic and structured (OG) • Independent, differentiated and appropriate • Provides for the needs of at-risk and advanced students. • Compatible with either a centers or lab model • Balances strengths and weaknesses of the child • Balances strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum.

5. Lexia Research Resources • Journal of Research in Reading, Volume 29, Issue 2, 2006. Title I study. • Reading Psychology, Kindergarten study. • Implementation Study, manuscript in preparation. • “Lexia Best Practices” white paper • “Leveraging Technology...” – paper presented at conference. • Boston Public Schools Evaluation, 2004.

6. Characteristics of Success - Reading Instruction in K-3 • Early Intervention • Differentiated Instruction • Small Group Instruction • Ability Grouping • Decoding and Encoding • Modeling and Scaffolding

7. Research Requirements • Treatment and control groups • Pre- and post-testing using standardized measures • Equated groups on pretest scores • Sufficient implementation over school year

8. Close to 50% non-Caucasian/Bilingual • Over 50% qualify for free or reduced lunch • District wide participation • Kindergarten-third grade sample • 45 classes • 812 total students

9. Assessment Tool Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test • Kindergarten (Level PR) – phonological awareness, letter-sound correspondences, listening comprehension • First grade (Level BR) – letter-sound correspondences, basic story words • Second grade (Level 2) – word decoding, reading vocabulary, reading comprehension • Third grade (Level 3) – reading vocabulary, reading comprehension

10. Kindergarten Study • 3 treatment, 3 control classes • Lexia Early Reading • Matched classes – same teacher, classroom, and curriculum

11. All children Low performers Kindergarten Results

12. New Publication Update! The Kindergarten Manuscript has been accepted for publication in Reading Psychology: An International Quarterly

13. First Grade Study • 5 treatment, 5 control classes • 83 students in treatment group, 84 students in control group • Subanalysis – Title I (15 students in treatment group, 15 students in control group)

14. Title I Students Lexia Students First Grade Results

15. Grade 1Average Comprehension Gain Score (By School Building) Gates MacGinitie Standard Change Score

16. Lexia’s UK Published Research Title 1 findings appear in the Journal of Research in Reading v29 (2), May 2006 “The efficacy of computer-based supplementary phonics programs for advancing reading skills in at-risk elementary students”

17. Second Grade Study • 7 treatment, 4 control classes • Students in two groups matched on pretest scores – 41 students in each group

18. Second Grade Results Decoding Subtest

19. Third Grade Study • 13 treatment, 5 control classes • Lower performers only • 46 students in treatment group, 65 students in control group

20. Third Grade Results Reading Comprehension Subtest

21. Lexia Middle School Study • 3 remedial reading classes: 47 subjects, two treatment classes, one control class (31 SPED students) • Identical instruction plus Lexia Strategies for Older Students in treatment classes (50 sessions avg.) • Woodcock Johnson III assessment tool • Pre-test determined two Lexia groups: Extremely Low Group (pre-test <80) and Low Average Group (pre-test >80)

22. Word-Attack Subtest - WJIII Comparison of Treatment Students with Very-Low Pretest Scores and Control Students

23. Passage Comprehension Subtest Comparison of Treatment Students with Low-Average Pretest Scores and Control Students

24. Data Driven Results • Lexia contributed to reading gains in grades K - 3 and middle school • Gains most evident for low performers • Results are consistent with published data • Teachers support the use of the programs

25. Best Practices and Implementation Tips**You have the details in your handout

26. Frequency and Duration of Use • 4 to 5 times a week • Kindergarten: Everybody benefits • Grades 1-3: Student performance drives your implementation • Grades 4 and above: Intensive remediation, English language learners

27. “High Benefit Students” • Low pre-test scores • High user sessions • High gain scores

28. Scheduling Use • Time on task • Lexia and the language arts block • Targeted implementation • What are you using your technology for?

29. Class Versus Lab Use • Class use characteristics • Lab use characteristics

30. Research and Resources Questions?