Reading Camps Ending With Assessment Test

Nancy Whalen's summer reading camp students at Park Elementary School faced a tough practice test Friday.

The students, who were third-graders last school year, have been taking practice tests every Friday during the six-week long reading camp.

After the test, Whalen reviewed the reading and comprehension skills her students have been learning and will need on the final day of the camp on Wednesday when they take an assessment test.

The students, who scored in Level I on the reading portion of the FCAT, need a passing score on the upcoming assessment test to be promoted to fourth grade.

"The first thing that we do on a retell is we say who or what the story is about," Whalen told her small group of students.

A boy said it was about a mosquito.

"We are going to have to make it a broad thing, not just the mosquito," Whalen told the boy.

A girl said "animals."

Whalen asked "what kind of animals? Farm animals?"

"No" the students replied.

"Jungle animals," one student replied correctly.

A total of about 103 students have been attending the summer reading camps at three schools in the district - Park, Woodlawn and Lake Placid elementary schools.

Last summer about 60-65 percent of the students passed the assessment test.

Whalen also teaches third grade at Park Elementary during the school year.

Anytime you're reading a story do you just read it through and look at all the words? she asked.

"No," the students replied.

"No" you say "who is the character? What's the plot? When is the setting? Where and why?

For taking the practice test, Whalen promised the students a game as a reward before going to lunch.

The students gently tossed a large plastic ball to each other according to Whalen's instructions. Students were eliminated from the game and sat down when they didn't follow the instructions or missed a catch.

A boy was the last student standing.