New Program Helps English Language Learners Close The Gap
MODESTO (CBS13) – This classroom is full of students surpassing expectations.
Martin Esho was 14 when he came to the United States from Syria, couldn't speak English and all he knew was the alphabet.
"I mean, I had good grades. I was one of the top students from first grade to third grade," Esho said. "But then I didn't go to school anymore."
Everything changed when he entered this Scholastic Read 180 classroom at Grace Davis High School in Modesto.
"They get on the computer do the process of actually doing vocabulary, spelling, questions writing and testing on what they just read," said Read 180 teacher Victor Soria.
It's losing the gap between his verbal and reading abilities and helping him overcome his challenges.
"It was kind of hard in the beginning, but then I started getting used to it," Esho said.
The class is designed for struggling readers, immigrants and refugees
"Data has shown that my students have grown three levels, three school years in a year," Soria said.
Huge progress and a confidence builder for these students who feel behind.
"If your level starts here, I need to raise it up. The only way to do it is like climbing a mountain, to get you to struggle a little bit," Soria said.
The teachers say the work will always be challenging, because the bar keeps being raised,
"Scholastic developed this program for remediation and were using it here at the Language Institute for acceleration," said Lindsey Bird, Coordinator Language Institute.
Esho is the winner of the Scholastic Read 180 award this year and is setting a great example for his peers.
"I want martin to come back and tell me what he's doing 10 years from now, and hopefully I had a part in that success," Soria said.
Martin now plans to attend Modesto Junior College in the fall.
