Friday, March 18, 2011

School Takes Action To Improve Reading Levels

Sow Hollow AL 

A local area elementary school has introduced an initiative which has reduced the number of letters in the alphabet to 23 in an effort to improve literacy rates within the district. The new program, which uses an abbreviated alphabet meant to raise reading ability in students by forcing them to memorize fewer letters, is in response to a recent study showing that more than eighty percent of Alabama sixth graders are reading below a sixth grade level.

Based on the success of this program, school board officials have also suggested eliminating adverbs claiming, “They’re not real important anyway.”

It was decided that the “W,” “X” and “Z” were the letters approved for amendment from the alphabet; this after a school-wide survey found that these letters were the least popular. Due to the recent transition from the more traditional 26-letter alphabet to the improved 23-letter version, the school board is quickly trying to approve a new W, X and Z-less series of textbooks for the upcoming 2011/2012 school year.

There is some contention though; since many board members are also trying to ensure that the new texts are free from adverbs as well, looking ahead to future changes, beyond spelling, to sentence structure and grammar.

Other area schools have yet to embrace this initiative to improve literacy, and have chosen less radical approaches which include: again lowering the passing grade, allowing unlimited test re-takes, and offering more study hall options.

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