Hello, my name is Gaye and I'm going to tell you about this SRA reading laboratory that was used in schools in the 1960s and the 1970s.
The first reading laboratory was published in the United States in 1957 and it was one of the first individualised learning programs.
The kit contained a series of reading levels. Each of the cards contained a story or factual information and then there were a series of multiple-choice comprehension questions and one word answer word builder questions.
The students recorded their answers into their student workbook. They then were able to mark their own work using the answer key cards.
Students were able to track their progress using the graphs in their student work book. Students needed to attain 90 to 100 percent in order to progress to the next level.
This well-used kit came to us from North Ryde Public School. What we find really interesting is the cards in the front of the box are really tatty and well used, indicating the levels of reading that most students got up to.
From about that highly sought after olive level, right through to the top blue level, the cards are almost brand new.
What's significant about the kit is it marks the beginnings of individualised learning in schools.
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