Experiential Reading: Creating Metaphors to Help Struggling Readers

Dr. Michele Pickel & Heather Jeffrey Education Minnesota Professional Conference 2013 www.crosspranch.com

WHAT IS EXPERIENTIAL READING? Research Based reading strategies combined with fun, physical activities using tools and ‘toys’, to create metaphors that engage mind, body, and emotions in learning

What gets in your students’ way on the road to reading? Can they read it FLUENTLY? (i.e. Accurately, Quickly, and with Expression)

Is there something messing up your students’ reading road?

Bridge to Reading Explanation In effective reading instruction there are 5 key areas that must be taught: Phonemic Awareness; Decoding (phonics & sight word recognition); Vocabulary; Fluency; and Comprehension. Phonemic Awareness, the most basic and most critical skill for learning to read, is developing the ability to hear the individual sounds (phonemes) that make up a word. Children must be able to take apart the word sounds and blend them together. This is foundational in any alphabetic language. Decoding is learning to match sounds with letters and build them into words. It encompasses both phonics (sounding out words) and sight words (learning words that don’t sound like they are spelled). Vocabulary, understanding word meanings, is vital in order to understand what is read. There is a very high correlation between vocabulary and comprehension and success in school! Fluency is the ability to read words accurately, quickly, and with expression. It forms the “bridge” between squiggly marks on a page (text), and Comprehension. However it is impossible for that bridge to work without the pillars of Decoding and Vocabulary built firmly on the bedrock of Phonemic Awareness. Comprehension - making meaning from words - is the goal of reading!

WHY EXPERIENTIAL READING?  There is a reading crisis in our schools and homes  more than 60% of all students are reading below grade level  33% of elementary students & over 25% of middle and high school students read below the basic level needed to reach proficiency  Memory retention and recall improve dramatically when movement anchors learning  Students are able to create metaphors for reading challenges outside of themselves; try out potential solutions; then put it back inside and use those solutions.

Experiential Reading developed from

Horse Powered Reading (The Original Experiential Reading)

Summer 2012 Research … Research Question: What is the impact of Horse-Powered Reading instruction (EAGALA Model Equine Assisted Learning used to teach reading) on: motivation to read; attitude toward reading; self-confidence in ability to read; reading skills targeted for instruction? • With a small grant from Concordia’s Faculty Scholarship center & money from my yearly Faculty Development fund

• I recruited 10 children just finishing grades K-3 • The 10 kids each did 8 one hour long Horse Powered Reading sessions • As the Reading & Equine Specialist, I worked with a Mental Health professional and 4 horses using Equine Assisted Learning in the tutoring sessions (Horse Powered Reading)

How do I know it works? Pre & Post Assessments • • • • •

QRI-5 Word List Assessment QRI-5 Graded Paragraph Assessment Elementary Reading Attitude Survey Motivations for Reading Questionnaire The Reader Self-Perception Scale

AND • Parent interviews six months after the tutoring ended

James- 1st grade The horses all laid down.. in his first session

“We saw an immediate improvement in his reading at school, and steady improvement since… He has become a self motivated as well as confident reader.”

Colton – 2nd grade Some challenges from encephalitis at 1 yr old

Nerve damage to right hand

Build a better brain so the words don’t ‘fall out!

Caroline – 3rd grade Great dancer – very distractible – comprehension problems Mom texted this photo

Caroline worked for 2 session to accomplish a task as she learned how to ASK FOR HELP when she didn’t understand!

Experiential Reading: Horse Powered Reading Activities Adapted for Your Classroom

Word Sorts:  Family Reunion  Dump all balls  Everyone collect 1 or more  Find your “family” for a family reunion  Write a family story using the words  Word Round-up  create a pen for each different ‘herd’  Tell about the characteristics of your herd  Basketball (or soccer)  Different hoop (or goal) for each word “team”  Create a new name and rules for your game

Experiential Reading: Activities for your Classroom

Obstacle Course Skills: Fluency- vocabulary- decoding/syllabication –comprehension  Label anything to create obstacles • sight words -vocab - multi-syllable words  What gets in the way of YOUR reading???  Accuracy  Speed  Prosody (expression) Variations: Relay race competition. must say a 7 word sentence for each word multiple-meaning words requiring a different sentence each time multi-syllable word (easily decoded syllables) barricades (blocks/boxes/lg puzzle pieces) that have to be “broken apart” to be read o Create a story as student moves through course using the words o Create a group story by having team members go through the course and add new “chapters” each time. o o o o

Experiential Reading: Activities for your Classroom

Story Circle Skills: Comprehension – Vocabulary – fluency  Stand to one of the sections with a “story team”  Have words on the cones • Vocabulary words – sight words- Academic vocab • Content area words – multiple meaning words  Team stands inside section with the storyteller in the circle  Use the word(s )on the cone in your story. • 7 or more words per sentence • Use 1 or all words  If a helper or team member writes down the story, type & use for fluency Variations: * Second time around – try using synonyms or antonyms for cone words. * Affixes on tools in the circle center may also be available to add to cone words

Experiential Reading: Activities for your Classroom

Other Ideas…  Wor’d Series – Using Betsy’s Day at the Game by Greg Bancroft • Baseball as metaphor for reading • You must know words to hit a home run in reading

 Lanyard Activities – See: Word Nerds by Overturf, Montgomery & Smith • • • •

Synonyms – Antonyms & “Juicy Words” Scramble – find your Entourage Word Chains - Word Charades Vocabulary Parties

 Cone & Ball Games • Magic E mountains & games & races • Vowel Digraphs - Confusing words • Basketball – Soccer

 Giant Board Games • Word Chunk Checkers • Treasure Hunt

What Now?  You can find more information, Basic word-lists, Bridge to Reading Graphic, Bibliography of some of my favorite resources, photos & ideas on my Dr. Pickel’s website: www.crosspranch.com  Feel free to email with questions or to brainstorm ideas for your unique students – [email protected]  For more info on Equine Assisted Learning or Equine Assisted Psychotherapy go to www.EAGALA.org  Spend time exploring the activities & asking questions!