Achieve3000

A class is not differentiated when assignments are the same for all learners and the adjustments consist of varying the level of difficulty of questions for certain students. Further, it is not appropriate to assign more work to advanced learners, as having to do the "regular work, plus" inevitably seems punitive to them.

Source: Differentiating Instruction For Advanced Learners In the Mixed-Ability Middle School Classroom, by Carol Ann Tomlinson, ERIC EC Digest #E536, October 1995

Why is differentiated instruction so important today?

There simply is no single learning template for the general American classroom. A single heterogeneous language arts class is likely to include students who can read and comprehend as well as students much older than them; students who can barely decode words, comprehend meaning or apply basic information; and students who fall somewhere in between. There are students who learn better in groups and some who learn best on their own. Further, the learning profiles of students can change rapidly as they develop.

If your students differ in readiness, interest and learning profiles — and if you attempt to meet each student at his or her level and foster continual growth — a "one-size-fits-all" model of instruction makes little sense.

Differentiated instruction provides a better, more effective solution for meeting the academic diversity that typifies American education today.

Source: Differentiating Instruction For Advanced Learners In the Mixed-Ability Middle School Classroom, by Carol Ann Tomlinson, ERIC EC Digest #E536, October 1995

How does Achieve3000 enable differentiated instruction?

Achieve3000 enables the differentiated classroom and ignites educational opportunities utilizing technology by offering the variety of learning options designed to tap into different readiness levels, interests and learning profiles via Web-based solutions.

Using a proprietary software engine, Achieve3000 solutions differentiate language arts and technology skills instruction based on each student's Lexile^™ level.

The entire class receives the same assignments and activities, and each student receives the assignments via email tailored automatically and precisely to his or her Lexile level.

Students are continually assessed via online activities, including multiple-choice questions, polls and free response questions that allow them to demonstrate learning in a variety of ways.

Activities are administered automatically and can be completed in groups or individually, and with or without teacher intervention.

Achieve3000 supports different learning styles and learning needs. Our solutions offer audio support for students of low reading levels, and we offer our solutions in Spanish.

Students are given the opportunity to explore the concepts they're studying via embedded links in the assignments, as well as through access to additional differentiated content.

Students can use Achieve3000 solutions in class, after school or at home on any Internet-ready computer — giving them ownership and responsibility for their learning, as well as providing a cost-effective, differentiated instruction solution for schools and districts.

For more information about how Achieve3000 differentiates instruction, click here.

How can I preview Achieve3000 solutions?

You can preview the program in several ways:

View our online demo.

Sign up to participate in one of our weekly online guided tours. You'll get an in-depth demonstration of the program, with ample opportunity for questions. Call 888-968-6822 ext. 124 or email info@achieve3000.com.
One of our Regional Directors can show you how Achieve3000 aligns to your state standards and tests, and can provide a personal demonstration online or in person. Call 800-838-8771 for more information.
Try our solutions online

What is KidBiz3000^®?

KidBiz^® provides the first Web-based, individualized reading and writing instruction solution for grades 2-8 that reaches every student at his or her Lexile level. Powered by a proprietary software engine that distributes the same assignments to the entire class, but tailors them according to each student's reading level, KidBiz enables teachers to move their students up surely and steadily, level by level. Importantly, KidBiz extends teachers' reach without increasing workloads or time demands. Perhaps most important of all, KidBiz is proven to accelerate reading comprehension, writing proficiency, vocabulary development and high-stakes test scores.

What is TeenBiz3000^™?

TeenBiz^™ provides the first Web-based, individualized reading and writing instruction solution for grades 9-12 that reaches every student at his or her Lexile level. Powered by a proprietary software engine that distributes the same assignments to the entire class, but tailors them according to each student's reading level, TeenBiz enables teachers to move their students up surely and steadily, level by level. All students work on the same assignments based on non-fiction, current events based content, and they gain experience using practical Web-based technology applications — reinforcing skills and knowledge they need in the real world. Importantly, TeenBiz extends teachers' reach without increasing workloads or time demands. Perhaps most important of all, TeenBiz is proven to accelerate reading comprehension, writing proficiency, vocabulary development and high-stakes test scores.

What is Email3000^™?

The Email3000^™ Differentiated Instruction Solution is a turnkey school email system that simulates POP3 commercial email systems, allowing students, teachers and parents to communicate in a completely safe and secure environment that limits usage to authorized users only. Email3000 is also the only school email solution that provides complete safety and security, while also sending students emails every day to ensure usage and practice with assignments and activities tailored to each student's Lexile level.

How do KidBiz and TeenBiz improve reading proficiency?

KidBiz and TeenBiz are designed to improve reading comprehension, vocabulary, development and fluency. They are based on the research of the National Reading Panel, and function by delivering differentiated daily content matched to each student's age, grade and reading level. KidBiz and TeenBiz improve reading proficiency via the following process:

Assess. Students' Lexile levels are assessed initially using a proprietary Achieve3000 Lexile assessment tool that determines each student's level of comprehension for informational text. This enables progress to be made immediately, without spending precious time identifying students' correct levels.
Intervene. Each day, students then receive level-appropriate, standards-aligned nonfiction assignments via email. The Web-based assignments are interactive, engaging and highly motivating. They provide more time on task and more practice — which in turn fosters gains in reading comprehension and writing skills across subject areas. Students immerse themselves in KidBiz and TeenBiz and use them not just during school, but after school and on weekends as well.
Reassess. Students' levels of comprehension are monitored by a daily formative assessment of students' reading comprehension abilities. However, in order to measure Lexile growth, a second administration of LevelSet is given mid-year so that students' Lexiles can be adjusted and more appropriate-leveled assignments can be delivered. A post assessment is done at the end of the year when another version of LevelSet is administered. In this way, the solution keeps students in their "zone of proximal development."
Report. KidBiz and TeenBiz also provide teachers and administrators with ongoing management reports and diagnostic data that enable individualized intervention and remediation based on a given student's needs.

To learn more, click here.

How do KidBiz and TeenBiz improve writing skills?

Achieve3000's solutions are founded on the research of the National Writing Commission and provide many formal and informal writing opportunities:

Daily e-mail messages include thought-provoking questions that relate to student's lives and experiences. This informal, social environment gives students the opportunity to write across content areas on a daily basis.
Articles include writing prompts to promote daily writing.
A Writing Center offers weekly writing assignments that give students practice in recognizing and applying different organizational strategies, including cause/effect, compare/contrast, steps in a process. These assignments, in conjunction with lessons and activities on writing mechanics, allow teachers to tailor each student's writing experience based on individual need.
Students have the opportunity to see their work published on the Achieve3000 site, so they can benefit from writing for an audience.
The system is designed to support the writing process so students can use graphic organizers to organize their thoughts, create drafts, edit and revise drafts based on comments, and finally publish their work.
Teachers score essays online and send feedback via e-mail.

What research are your solutions based upon?

Achieve3000 is based on the research of the National Reading Panel (NRP) and the National Writing Commission . The NRP identified five components of effective reading programs: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension. Achieve3000 targets fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, in keeping with the panel's findings. It also provides formal and informal writing instruction, in keeping with the findings of the National Writing Commission.

Skill Research Base Achieve3000

Fluency Fluency, according to the NRP, develops with substantial practice. Repeated and monitored oral reading is an effective means of developing fluency, and teachers need to provide students with ongoing opportunities. Achieve3000 provides teachers with resources to build fluency into their daily lessons. Fluency worksheets and training, along with quality texts that are appropriate for children, ensure that teachers provide adequate fluency instruction.

Vocabulary Current research emphasizes the need for supporting vocabulary development by allowing students to build deep understandings of words. Effective vocabulary instruction provides multiple encounters with new words and plentiful opportunities for students to use words in varied ways. Achieve3000 provides students with opportunities to develop awareness of and appreciation for words. It includes systematic vocabulary instruction. Students are supported in their efforts to both comprehend and compose.

Comprehension Research indicates that questioning students about what they have read strongly supports and advances student comprehension. Effective comprehension techniques give students a purpose for reading, help students think actively as they read, encourage students to monitor their comprehension, and help them to review content. Achieve3000 offers daily reading passages that challenge children's critical thinking and comprehension. E-mail messages build schema. Follow-up activities encourage students to monitor comprehension and review what they have read.

Writing According to the National Writing Commission, increasing the amount of time students spend writing is key to improving their writing skills. Students should also be encouraged to write across the curriculum and to spend more time writing outside of school. Achieve3000's e-mail system offers informal opportunities for students to write every day. The majority of students with computers at home use the program's e-mail system after school, and the software also offers many opportunities to write across the curriculum.

What research has been done to demonstrate Achieve3000's effectiveness?

Two independent evaluation studies have scientifically proven that Achieve3000 improves reading and writing skills and leads to higher test scores among students who use the program regularly.

The Bayonne Evaluation Study 2003-2004 evaluated the effects of a year-long intervention using KidBiz with 5^th grade students. Significant gains were made in reading, language use, technology knowledge and motivation, as evidenced by dramatically increased scores on the Scholastic Reading Inventory and the TerraNova Tests.

The Chicago Evaluation Study 2003-2004 evaluated the performance of twelve schools in the Chicago Public School system and found a statistically significant link between the use of KidBiz and improved reading performance. Schools that used KidBiz demonstrated dramatically higher gains on the end-of-year standardized reading tests.

How can your reading/writing solutions be used to develop technology literacy?

Achieve3000 helps students become proficient in technology by offering formal technology lessons and activities that are tied to state technology standards. With Tech3000, students work through self-paced lessons, matched to their technology proficiency and Lexile level, which explain how to use key features of commonly used software programs and which provide multiple opportunities to practice these new skills. Teachers can also assign content-area projects that build specific technology skills, while reinforcing the core content being addressed in the classroom.

How do KidBiz and TeenBiz ensure accountability?

Achieve3000 offers detailed reporting on system usage and student performance. District- and school-wide analyses are available — both online and in print — as are individual class and student reports. The reports provided by Achieve3000 fall into two broad categories:

System usage reports show how frequently the site is being used, how long students are logging in for and what times of day they are using the system most.

Performance reports demonstrate student progress towards performance standards and expectations. They also show scores and progress on Achieve3000 activities.

How are student's reading levels assessed?

Students are assessed using LevelSet, an online inventory that assesses each students capability to comprehend information text. Upon completion of LevelSet, each student receives a discreet Lexile score that allows the system to automatically match student to the appropriate level of text to ensure that students are within their zone of proximal development. Accuracy of these discreet scores is evaluated during the first weeks on the program.

What happens when students' reading levels increase?

Note that students' Lexile levels will be adjusted halfway through the school year, when students will be administered an interim LevelSet. This evaluation will take place on or around January 15. The results of this administration are used to re-establish a Lexile level for each student so that appropriate leveled content is delivered.

A final administration of LevelSettest is administered one month before schools in the region let out. For east-coast schools that let out in June, the post-test is administered on or around the 15th of May. For southern schools that let out in May, the test is administered on or around the 15th of April. Just like the pre-test, once the post-test is delivered, it cannot be dismissed or ignored.

How can I monitor student usage and performance?

Achieve3000 features a powerful reporting package that enables you see a snapshot of how your entire class is performing, as well as drill down to assess individual student performance. You can see how students perform overall, on individual activities and even individual questions. The reporting package also reports student progress relative state standards. In addition, Achieve3000 lets you monitor how and when your students use the solution, as well as which features they use. And an advanced filtering system, along with the ability to view all of your students' email messages, give you complete control to ensure that students use of Achieve3000 appropriately.

How does Achieve3000 extend teachers' ability to teach?

With Achieve3000, assignments and assessments are administered automatically. What's more, the solution is self-adjusting — automatically re-adjusting instructional levels and assignments as students make progress, without requiring teacher intervention. Teachers don't have to allocate precious classroom time, learn a complex software program or be burdened by administrative tasks.

Are Achieve3000's materials aligned with state standards?

Achieve3000 solutions are fully aligned to state-specific standards in the content areas of ELA, Social Studies, Math, and Technology. Alignment to Science standards will be complete by the end of 2005.

Requests can be made to customize standards to city objectives.

What are your professional development/training options?

A successful Achieve3000 implementation typically requires three full days of on-site training by an Achieve3000 trainer. The three-day training package includes the assignment of a dedicated project manager to oversee implementation and setup. We offer the following training options:

Train-the-trainers model. We will work with teacher mentors to roll out the program. We also assign a project manager to oversee implementation and training. This is the most cost-effective option for large, district-wide implementations.

On-site teacher training. We train all your teachers, either at your school or another central location. We also assign a project manager to oversee implementation and training.

On-site student training. Our trainer circulates among the classrooms in your school and trains students to use Achieve3000.

Online training. A Web-based training option is available for teachers and/or students as a supplement to an on-site training program.

How can Achieve3000 be used as an effective After School solution?

Achieve3000 can be deployed after school as an engaging and effective after school solution on its own or in combination with Achieve3000's KidBiz and TeenBiz Differentiated Instruction Solutions during the regular school day. The continuum of language arts instruction and practice, using the same core system and instructional schema, is comfortable and enjoyable for kids. Further, Achieve3000 is a "self-running" program that requires no preparation by teachers and no intervention while students are using the program. Your teachers get a break, while your students get the enhanced reading, writing and technology instruction that drive proficiency.

How can Achieve3000 be used as an effective Special Education solution?

Achieve3000 encompasses all learning profiles and special ed student needs, including audio and Spanish-language support, as well as ability-appropriate fonts and colors. What's more, Achieve3000 is continually self-adjusting — it assesses student performance and re-adjusts learning levels and assignments as students make progress, making the significant classroom management challenges your teachers face far more manageable. And the solution uses the same assignments and activities for all students, promoting equity and collaboration among students of varying abilities.

How can Achieve3000 be used as an effective SES solution?

Achieve3000's standards based assignments and activities can be utilized in all SES programs and at home, as well as during the regular school day to supplement language arts curriculum. The engaging current events articles and activities differentiated to each student's Lexile levels keep them involved. Our online mentors can provide you with even greater instructional flexibility and support. And we can help provide you SES-funded Internet connectivity in school and at home.

How can Achieve3000 be used as an effective ELL solution?

What makes Achieve3000 a particularly effective ELL instructional solution is that students' Spanish-language reading levels are used to promote the growth of their English Lexile levels. Students receive instructional materials in their native language to set a schema that will then allow for the development of English reading and writing skills. The solution helps students to gradually transition from Spanish to English as progress is made. What's more, Achieve3000 brings all students together — ELL students and English proficient students — by giving them all the same content. Achieve3000 breaks down the barriers to a true classroom community.

How can Achieve3000 be used as an effective Summer Program solution?

Achieve3000 focuses on improving students' reading and writing skills, all summer long. In fact, Achieve3000's Summer Programs focus on reading every day, for full six-to-eight week summer programs. What's more, Achieve3000 provides on-site and virtual support to ensure successful differentiated instruction that accelerates academic success.