A few weeks after the NGO Argentinos por la Educación and other groups warned that Argentine students do not understand what they read and to ask for public policies to improve this situation, the Ministry of Education of the City came out to communicate that in the district students improved their reading performance.
According to reports, more than 25,000 3rd grade students from state-run and private schools in the City of Buenos Aires participate in the Reading Fluency and Comprehension Program. In 2022, a pilot test was carried out which, according to the data disseminated, yielded positive results.
The operation involved 469 state schools and 126 private schools. A first measurement was made in September, then there was intensive training and it was measured again in November. The result was expected: when teaching improves, students respond.
The results indicate that half of the students improved reading pace and speed and significantly reduced errors. For example, 7 out of 10 students improved in intonation, based on punctuation marks and expressiveness in reading. The reading speed was also slightly higher.
"Substantial improvements were detected in students as the number of sessions increased: those who completed them had the highest percentages of improvement," says the statement from the Ministry of Education, to confirm that students perform if they are stimulated.
The program is inspired by a model from Mendoza. The instruments used include narrative texts with closed instructions that students must read and respond on the one hand in a low voice, and on the other, texts to be read aloud to assess the fluency and quality of reading.
Another fact provided by the Ministry of Education is decisive: "The key aspect is in the training of teachers for an effective intervention and support materials are provided aimed at teachers and students to advance fluency and reading comprehension throughout the year."
This training was attended by 1,171 teachers from state schools, 240 from private schools and 50 referents supporting the implementation of the Program in schools.
Experience concludes that when teachers are trained for a certain objective they teach better, and in turn this pedagogical optimization results in students achieving better results. When none of these things happen, the consequences are usually the opposite.
It was also reported that in 2023 the program will be implemented for all third-grade students in state schools and some in private education. Between April and November the reading sessions will be held and in December, as announced, the results will be communicated.
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