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By admin, August 19, 2010 6:50 am

The Delaware Department of Education has published the results of DSTP testing for 2010. Information released for grades 2-10 show that many math scores stayed constant or improved.

The outlook for reading is not so optimistic. Scores decreased for reading in almost every grade.

Here are the results of students meeting or exceeding standards, along with the comparison to 2009:

Mathematics

• Grade 2—88%, up one point
• Grade 3—78%, no change
• Grade 4—78%, up one point
• Grade 5—76%, down one point
• Grade 6—73%, down two points
• Grade 7—70%, down one point
• Grade 8—68%, up two points
• Grade 9—54%, down one point
• Grade 10—57%, up one point

Reading

• Grade 2—82%, down three points
• Grade 3—77%, down four points
• Grade 4—76%, down six points
• Grade 5—81%, down four points
• Grade 6—74%, down nine points
• Grade 7—83%, down four points
• Grade 8—78%, down three points
• Grade 9—69%, down five points
• Grade 10—64%, down seven points

This year, Delaware received advisement from the U.S. Department of Education regarding its “Read Aloud” accommodation. This provides for printed material to be read to students and not have them read for themselves. In doing this, the skill being assessed actually changes from reading comprehension to listening comprehension.

The government asked that “Read Aloud” be scaled back. So for 2010, 23% of students previously allowed to use “Read Aloud” used it this year. The overall drop in the reading scores is attributed to lower performance in about half of the previous Read Aloud students. Their comprehension skills have not been fully utilized and fine-tuned in the past so many fell below standard when being left on their own to take the test this year.

For 25 years, Back to Basics has been recognized as the area’s undisputed leader in one-on-one tutoring. In addition, the firm offers a unique Delaware private school for grades K-12 and a Private Business and Trade School for adults. Back to Basics is the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

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By admin, January 23, 2010 1:46 pm

Back to Basics, the largest privately-owned, full-service educational facility in the tri-state area, is currently interviewing applicants for several key positions including Middle School Math and Reading Specialists and High School English and Math Specialists for Tuesday/Thursday afternoon instruction from approximately 2:00 – 4:00. Applicants must possess a minimum of 2 years relevant teaching or tutoring experience.

Since 1985, the tutors at Back to Basics have been helping students reach their full academic potential. The firm works with remedial, special education, and enrichment students and offers instruction in more than 60 subjects. Back to Basics employs 90 tutors, all of whom are experienced professionals holding Bachelor, Master or Doctorate degrees. In addition, the firm partners with major corporations and small businesses for interpretation/translation, English as a Second Language (E.S.L.), time management, writing, foreign languages, and other skills vital in today’s business world.

Back to Basics offers a competitive salary and benefits for both part-time and full-time employees, the ability to create an individualized schedule as well as other location and scheduling options, plus the joy of making a serious contribution to the academic and personal life of another.

The Back to Basics’ employment application and filing instructions can be found at www.backtobasicslearning.com

For more information call 302.594.0754 or visit www.backtobasicslearning.com

For 25 years, Back to Basics has been recognized as the area’s undisputed leader in one-on-one tutoring. In addition, the firm offers a unique Delaware private school for all grades. Back to Basics is the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

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By admin, August 26, 2009 7:07 pm

Many children, and adults for that matter, have difficulty reading. There are specialized programs to assist non-readers and poor readers to improve their literacy level. Here are a couple of helpful programs that you may not be familiar with:

Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes- The programs in this method have been effective with symptoms of dyslexia, hyperlexia, autism and general learning disabilities. They target the basic sensory functions that are related to learning and stimulate them. These programs include, but are not limited to, Talkies, Seeing Stars, and Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing.

Orton-Gillingham-This methodology was developed by Dr. Samuel Orton and an educator, Anna Gillingham. It puts emphasis on visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning styles and uses phonetics. It is a multi-sensory approach to reading. Orton-Gillingham begins with the structure of language and teaches reading, handwriting and written expression as a logical all-encompassing body. This comprehensive approach benefits a majority of students, if not all.

Of course, catching a reading difficulty early is key. Observe your children and seek help at the first sign of trouble. This gives you the best chance of success no matter what program you choose. We also have psychologists on staff to do psychoeducational testing.

Back to Basics has been recognized as the area’s undisputed leader in one-on-one tutoring. In addition, the firm offers a unique Delaware private school for all grades. Back to Basics is the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.