Thank you all for your perspectives on braille reading rates.<br>Beyond what is being done for the general education population in any given school district, are there formal "best practice" guidelines that are accepted in the TVI field & followed regarding how often to assess reading rates & what materials to use for such assessments - or is this all left up to individual teachers.<br>
Sincerely,<br>Eric Vasiliauskas<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 9:46 AM, James Konechne <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:JamesKonechne@bism.org">JamesKonechne@bism.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<div link="#000000" vlink="#000000" name="Compose message area" lang="EN-US">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Hi Toni and all,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">I agree that many of our students may not read at 200-300 wpm. As
teachers, we always have to guard against lowering our expectations,
though. No matter what you think about how fast a student will read,
encourage him and expect him to perform and push him hard!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">The more you’ll expect from someone, the more you’ll
get.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
<a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] <b>On
Beha</b><a href="mailto:Toni_Anderson@sbcss.k12.ca.us" target="_blank">Toni_Anderson@sbcss.k12.ca.us</a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, June 29, 2010 6:03 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">pibe-division@nfbnet.org</a>; <a href="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">pibe-division@nfbnet.org</a><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Pibe-division] Reading Rate Standards</div></div></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"></span></p><div><div></div><div class="h5">
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">I taught a student who won the Braille Challenge after leaving
me. He was an excellent braille reader. He was also very
smart. Many of our students will never read at 250-300 words per
minute because even if they had normal vision, it wouldn't be something they
could do.</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Toni Anderson</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">VI-SDC,
Dona Merced Elem.</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">10333
Palo Alto Drive</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Rancho
Cucamonga, CA 91730</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(909)
941-8869</span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">
<hr size="2" align="center" width="100%">
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a> on behalf
of Sheila Amato<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tue 6/29/2010 2:31 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Professionals in Blindness Education Division List<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Pibe-division] Reading Rate Standards</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I
just returned from Los Angeles California where I attended the finals for the
Braille Challenge. Yep, I saw just that... fingers flying over braille and
braillers. I was delighted and honored to walk with and chat with the top 60
finalists in North America... kids in grades 1-12 who represented 43 states and
4 Canadian provinces. </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">One
of the students from our Long Island Regional Braille Challenge took first
place in her grade group, Sophomores! My own student did admirably well
for being the 5th grader in a combined 5th/6th grade grouping. He was proud
that he tried his best and had fun. Whatever the outcome, it is still cool to
be able to say that you are among the top 12 finalists. Guess that makes
all of them winners. </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">There
are several youtube videos of regional competitions throughout the country, as
well as several newspaper articles. If you want to learn more about this event,
check out <a href="http://www.braillechallenge.org/" target="_blank">www.braillechallenge.org</a>.
</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sheila</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% whitesmoke;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="mailto:dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com" title="mailto:dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com
CTRL + Click to follow link" target="_blank">Dr.
Denise M. Robinson</a> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% whitesmoke;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sent:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Tuesday, June 29,
2010 4:01 PM</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% whitesmoke;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">To:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org" title="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org
CTRL + Click to follow link" target="_blank">Professionals
in Blindness Education Division List</a> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% whitesmoke;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Subject:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Re: [Pibe-division]
Reading Rate Standards</span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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<td style="padding: 0in;" valign="top">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">You are EXACTLY correct
James. By 12th grade our kids need to be reading 250-300+ and they do if you
expect it and teach to that degree.</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: "Brush Script MT"; color: rgb(64, 64, 255);"> Denise </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D. <br>
Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired<br>
Yakima School District</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">TechVision-Independent Contractor</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">509-674-1853 <a href="mailto:deniserob@gmail.com" target="_blank"> deniserob@gmail.com</a></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br>
--- On <b>Tue, 6/29/10, James Konechne <i><<a href="mailto:JamesKonechne@BISM.org" target="_blank">JamesKonechne@BISM.org</a>></i></b>
wrote:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
From: James Konechne <JamesKonechne@BISM.org><br>
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Reading Rate Standards<br>
To: "Professionals in Blindness Education Division List"
<<a href="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">pibe-division@nfbnet.org</a>><br>
Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 8:50 PM</p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Hi
everyone,</span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">I
don’t buy the whole 120 wpm as a standard for what a blind adult
reads. The average sighted college student reads at between 250 and 350
wpm. Lots of factors go in to how fast a person reads, but if you set
an expectation of a person reading at 120 wpm, that’s what you’ll
get. If you set it at 250 or 350wpm, then you’ll probably get
that. You’ve got to set and keep high expectations; people live
up to the expectations set for them.</span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Anyway,
that’s my two cents worth.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">James
K</span> </p>
<div>
<div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(181, 196, 223) -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
<a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] <b>On
Behalf Of </b>Mary Willows<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, June 25, 2010 10:51 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Professionals in Blindness Education Division List<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Pibe-division] Reading Rate Standards</span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hi Eric:</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">This is a great
question. I spoke to Dr. Sharon Sacks at the California School for the
Blind about this topic. Apparently, there are no standards. It is
thought that adult fluency is 120 words per minute. This would be a
great research project. </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<blockquote style="border-width: medium medium medium 1.5pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color black; padding: 0in 0in 0in 4pt; margin: 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt;">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">----- Original
Message ----- </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(228, 228, 228);"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=pumpkinracer@gmail.com" title="pumpkinracer@gmail.com" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: blue;">DrV</span></u></a>
</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">To:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="http://us.mc524.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=pibe-division@nfbnet.org" title="pibe-division@nfbnet.org" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: blue;">Professionals
in Blindness Education Division List</span></u></a> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sent:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Saturday, June 19,
2010 9:00 AM</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Subject:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> [Pibe-division]
Reading Rate Standards</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: blue;">Hi Everyone,</span>
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: blue;">Many school
districts assess the reading speed & accuracy of students at the
beginning & end of their school year. How is reading fluency approached
& assessed for blind/VI students? What benchmarks & assessment tools
are educators using in the field? How often are reading rate assessments
performed? Are therereading rate standards for blind/VI students?</span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: blue;">I would
greatly appreciate your thoughts & input.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: blue;">Sincerely,</span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; color: blue;">Eric
Vasiliauskas</span> </p>
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