FREE MP3 Contest for the Winter Break !

Teenbiz Contest & Rewards !

Congrats to all 1083 WHS students who reached the semester goal of at least 40 activities for Teenbiz as of Dec.10 ! Of these students, Na’au Pono will be rewarding the TOP 500 average 1st try scorers with a McDonald’s treat through your English Teachers. We would also like to congratulate the TOP 3 scorers for Teenbiz during the 1st Semester: they are Rochelle Pagaduan, Deoneco Butler, and Jared Yoshinaga.

FREE MP3 Player ! If you log on to Teenbiz from December 24th and January 3rd and complete at least five activities with scores above 60%, you’ll have a chance to win a FREE MP3 Player ! C’mon gang, let’s Continue to improve our reading as we strive to "Learn to Read and Read to Learn" !

Cane Tassel Article (Jun2009) "Lexile Growth in Achieve Surpasses Expectations"

Content of Article:
Achieve3000 has become an integral part of English classes since its introduction to students at the beginning of January 2009. Teachers used the first level set assessment to determine if students had any present deficiencies in reading comprehension. As students complete their minimum of 40 article assignments goals and a second level set assessment, it is expected that student reading levels eventually improve.

Teachers have observed growth in comprehension, both great and small, although some declining scores in comprehension were due to students’ lack of seriousness. Chris Doyle, the Curriculum and Implementation Manager, presented the school with the facts: Waipahu students spent 48,722 hours on Achieve3000, and 87 percent of students logged on outside of school, accumulating a total of 34,506 log-ins since the program began. From August 10, 2008 to May 23, 2009, students completed 103,579 activities. Most important to our teachers and staff is learning that when,"comparing summative assessment scores, students demonstrated a mean gain of 66.4 percent in Lexile points." Students surpassed the expected percentage growth by 38.2 percent.

" Participating in the Achieve3000 program is helping me in my reading," said junior Geraldine Gasmen. "The stories [introduced] me to new topics and vocabulary words that I never knew before."

With exposure to contemporary non-fiction articles, students are preparing for the Hawaii State Assessment (HSA) with activity questions that have a similar style to the HSA. Acheive3000 lacks fiction readings, however, which would appeal to students and also prepare them in greater depths for different types of reading.

During the year, English teachers and students encountered difficulties with Achieve3000. The save function was not available on some articles, and dissatisfaction grew as interesting articles had no activity button. The program’s adjustment to the level set after the required consecutive number of 100 percents was not always consistent. Some teachers would like assessment tools that sort and orgranize specifically.

The common obstacle faced is student trust. "[Acheive3000] is no different from class work. We read, answer questions and write," said junior Matthew Melton.

With Waipahu’s first year with Achieve3000, teachers see potential with this program and will be working with Doyle to improve student and teacher usage and comprehension growth.

Teenbiz is taking Marauders by Storm !

Teenbiz 3000 is now online: http://www.teenbiz3000.com/

TeenBiz™ provides the first Web-based, individualized reading and writing instruction solution for grades 6-12 that reaches every student at his or her Lexile level. Powered by a proprietary software engine that distributes assignments to the entire class, but tailors them according to each student's reading level, TeenBiz enables teachers to easily customize content and monitor student progress over time. Importantly, TeenBiz extends teachers' reach without increasing workloads or time demands. Perhaps most important of all, TeenBiz is proven to accelerate reading comprehension, writing proficiency, vocabulary development and high-stakes test scores.

How TeenBiz™ works…wonders.

TeenBiz™ is the first instruction solution that delivers truly differentiated reading and writing assignments based on each student's actual Lexile™ level.

• Assess. Students' Lexile levels are assessed initially using LevelSet™, a proprietary assessment tool that determines each student's level of comprehension for informational text. This enables progress to be made immediately, without spending precious time identifying students' correct levels.
  
• Individualize. Each day, students receive level-appropriate, standards-aligned nonfiction reading/writing assignments via email. The Web-based assignments are interactive, engaging and highly motivating. They provide more time on task and more practice - which in turn fosters gains in reading comprehension, writing skills and vocabulary development across subject areas.
  
• Reassess. Students' levels of comprehension are monitored by a daily formative assessment of students' reading comprehension abilities. However, in order to measure Lexile growth, a second administration of LevelSet is given mid-year so that students' Lexiles can be adjusted and more appropriate-leveled assignments can be delivered. A post assessment is done at the end of the year when another version of LevelSet is administered.
  
• Report. TeenBiz also provides teachers and administrators with ongoing management reports and diagnostic data that enable individualized intervention and remediation based on a given student's needs.

A student-centered pathway to success.

TeenBiz™ utilizes a five-step process designed and scientifically validated to spur literacy achievement among teen-age students.

1. Set a schema. Students read and reply to a daily email, which sets the stage for what they are about to read. Students start reading and writing in an informal environment that encourages them to make text-to-self connections.


2. Read for information. The email directs students to an appropriately leveled, nonfiction article at the Achieve3000 Web site that engages and involves students via real-world topics.


3. Demonstrate mastery. After reading the article, students answer questions that monitor comprehension, vocabulary mastery and higher-order thinking skills.


4. Construct meaning. Students build critical cognitive skills by writing responses to open-ended questions.


5. Form an opinion. Students also participate in a poll about the article so they can demonstrate opinions - the real manifestation of reading comprehension.

What's more, assignments, activities and integrated formative assessments are all aligned with state standards and scientifically proven to dramatically accelerate gains in reading levels, vocabulary acquisition, writing ability and high-stakes test scores.

Here's what Waipahu High students are saying about Teenbiz 3000...

"Teenbiz has helped me because it makes me want to read more."

"I think Teenbiz is a good program to help under-developed readers get to the level they should be at. It's a good way to incorporate technology into education."

"It really helped me in reading and it feels great when I do the activities."

"Teenbiz has helped me to read and I also learn about the articles."

"Teenbiz 3000 has helped me a lot because it strengthens my reading skills and teaches me about various subjects that's happening in our world."

"I like Teenbiz because it helps me better my reading skills. I also like it because I get to choose what topic I want to read about and I get to learn about different subjects."

"I feel that Teenbiz is a great way to helping students at WHS improve their reading skills."

"...Teenbiz teaches me to love reading."

"Teenbiz has helped me to broaden my vocabulary and comprehension ability when reading. I feel that Teenbiz will be sucessful in helping students read because you reach them through technology and not just books."

"Teenbiz 3000 has significantly improved my vocabulary..."