Latest success stories from Renaissance Learning

The International School with the Complete Literacy Solution

Rashid School for Boys Secondary Section, Dubai, UAE

Rashid School for Boys Secondary School follows a broadly British Curriculum. The school is comprised of all Emirati students who are native Arabic speakers with English as their second language. Prior to Renaissance, the school used the National Group Reading Test or NGRT to obtain reading levels. Students would be tested at the beginning and the end of the academic year.

“myON provided our students with the opportunity to continue reading digitally and for students and teachers to track progress.”

Initially, we purchased Accelerated Reader and gradually used the Star Assessment this to replace the NGRT for all years 7 – 12. We started using it in early 2019. Currently, we still use the Star Assessments at the start of the academic year and before every progress report, 3 times a year as this shows progress and flags up any interventions needed. I then requested myON during remote learning in 2020 after using it in a trial. Currently, myON is used for all of our literacy lessons from year 7 up to y 11.

“Star Assessment provided this, owing to the rich data that can be used to show progress.”

A multi-ethnic group of high school teenagers are working on digital tablets in the computer lab of the school. Part of the inspection process included providing evidence on reading progress. Star Assessment provided this, owing to the rich data that can be used to show progress. Accelerated Reader quizzes also provided evidence that students were reading and more importantly, understanding what they have read. During remote learning, owing to the Coronavirus, from March 2020 until the end of the academic year, myON provided our students with the opportunity to continue reading digitally and for students and teachers to track progress. Currently, we have a split school with some students still off-site and the majority on site. However, with the library closed to students, myON provided a great way for us to keep students reading.

“I think one of the main benefits is that we now use data from Renaissance to convert to Rashid School for Boys 9 point scale.”

We run competitions using results from both myON and Accelerated Reader quizzes. This has certainly helped us to keep students engaged with reading. Owing to the circumstances since March 2020, I would say that it is slightly tricky to measure progress. Prior to Covid, when we were just using Star Assessments and AR quizzes, I would say that this did help overall with literacy levels. I think one of the main benefits is that we now use data from Renaissance to convert to Rashid School for Boys 9 point scale. This information and reading level is now recorded on each students’ progress report which not only informs parents but also informs teachers across the whole curriculum.

At a time when the library has now been closed to students since March 2020, AR and myON have both had a positive impact on students’ reading. The wider benefit is that myON, in particular, is accessible to all students in all subjects via their iPads. Furthermore, other teachers, across the curriculum are now aware of students’ reading levels and are able to differentiate their curriculum accordingly.

“myON had been a really good solution to help us to keep students reading, especially during the library closure.”

I would definitely recommend AR as an intervention tool. The Star Assessments provide rich data which has been used to identify literacy issues across the curriculum. myON had been a really good solution to help us to keep students reading, especially during the library closure. I do offer a click and deliver service for students that want to borrow books, but the take up so far is quite low. Students like the ease of accessibility. Teachers like it because we can check that they are reading at the correct level. Some students, especially reluctant readers, have a tendency to pick books that are too easy for them, so Renaissance products help us to overcome that.

– Vikki Gilzean, Learning Resource Centre Coordinator

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