Read 180

Read 180 is a comprehensive reading intervention program for struggling readers in grades 4 – 12.  The goals of the program are to increase students’ decoding, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills.  Daily 90 minute lessons utilize an instructional model consisting of one 20 minute lesson, three rotating, small group sessions of 20 minutes each, and a 10 minute whole group wrap up. 

A typical Read 180 class period begins with whole group, teacher-led instruction.  A brief, engaging video sets the stage for instruction by building background knowledge for the theme and the three stories of the workshop.  The issues-based content of each workshop provides real-life accounts of the people that serve as a motivational piece for students.  Vocabulary, word analysis strategies, and one specific comprehension strategy are explicitly taught.  Group discussions involve questions that link to the workshop theme.  Students are instructed in the key writing expository, descriptive, persuasive, and literary response.  During shared reading, the teacher models fluent reading.  After this, students begin three different, small group rotations: one teacher-led group, one technology based group, and one modeled and independent reading group.

The instructional design and content of Read 180 is consistent with research suggesting that older struggling readers may benefit from intensive and extended practice in word study, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.  We conclude that there is an initial level of support for the use of read 180 to improve the reading comprehension of moderately at-risk students.

Strengths of Read 180:

• Assessment drives instruction and research based comprehension instructional techniques are used.

• Explicit, sequenced instruction, repetition of and multiple exposures to vocabulary, and immediate corrective feedback are provided.

• Scaffolding is consistently provided throughout the program.

• The many and varied resources are highly organized, teacher-friendly, with detailed and explicit information pertaining to the correct program implementation.

• The anchor videos are engaging, motivational, and provide a thematic cohesiveness throughout each workshop.

• Daily writing connects to workshop readings.

• Many teacher friendly resources for professional development are embedded in the Read 180 program at point of use.

Weaknesses of Read 180:

• None were noted.

Source: Florida Center for Reading Research