Bannatyne Reading, Writing, Spelling and Language Program
Third Edition
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How long will it take for school students to complete the Bannatyne Program? Why do you call the Bannatyne Program a self-pacing one?
Students vary tremendously in the length of time it takes to complete the Bannatyne Program because those who are verbally gifted may finish it in two years, whereas a mentally handicapped (MR) student may take six years. And right here let me again stress the importance of all students finishing the Bannatyne Program. Your average suburban elementary school class who begin the program on entering first grade will probably have completed the Bannatyne Program in three years, that is, by the end of third grade, and they will probably be reading (on average) at the sixth grade achievement level. Begin the Bannatyne Program when students enter Kindergarten if possible.
However, the Bannatyne Program is entirely self-pacing and NOT intended to be locked into grade levels, nor should it be. Some classes move along more quickly, while others may take a little longer, but it does not matter. Thorough learning of the content is far more important than the rate at which students learn. Almost all students will progress far faster than they will with traditional reading programs and comprehension will be their strongest acquisition.
Self-pacing means that any given student, or group, or class, will move through the Bannatyne Program at a sensible and comfortable pace or rate commensurate with their thorough and permanent assimilation of the content of the Bannatyne Program. Traditional programs which are locked into grade achievement levels (while in that specific grade) will always cause approximately one third of the students to "fail" the grade, because of the statistical definition (the mean, standard deviation and bell-curve distribution) (see GLOSSARY on statistics for definitions) on which such achievement levels are inherently based (see more on this strange situation in the Q & A below about Handicapped and Disabled Students). Because a class teacher uses a self-pacing program like the Bannatyne Program does not mean that groups of students cannot move along together--they can if the grouping that is recommended in (WHO CAN USE THE PROGRAM, Learning Environments) is used in that class.
What reading ages or reading grade levels can I expect my students to have when they have completed, (a) the Jewels Series, (b) the Ships Series and, (c) the Planets Series of the Bannatyne Program?
Traditional reading programs, and indeed almost all regular school curricula, are based on statistical grade level performances which are locked in by tradition. These national and class averages are the result of two centuries of teaching reading by traditional and erroneous methods which have changed little during the previous century even though variations of emphasis have sometimes been applied. Therefore the whole concept of teaching by grade level standards of achievement is flawed if only because it stifles true innovation. The nationally standardized reading tests used to determine "progress" are based on the very erroneous teaching systems that have been (and are) in vogue in almost all schools. Therefore the best way to measure the achievement levels of the Bannatyne Program is after the entire program has been completed, even though most students will test higher than their regular reading program counterparts at any point during their progress through the Bannatyne Program. In passing, I would mention the hypocrisy of one very large US school system who would not adopt the Bannatyne Program because research showed the Program would have all the end-of-third-grade students reading at the sixth grade level and therefore the County would have to buy new textbooks in all subjects for all the upper grades of all their elementary schools! Rest assured it is highly likely that if your regular students go through the Bannatyne Program they will be much further ahead than their regular program peers. It is even quite likely that, on completion of the Bannatyne Program, your handicapped and disabled students will be ahead of their regular age-group peers who are learning from traditional programs. Some students who have completed the Bannatyne Program read, spell and comprehend language at levels well above the sixth grade. One intelligent ESL dyslexic 18-year-old I tutored for two hours per week using only the Bannatyne Program went from second grade reading to eighth grade reading in eighteen months and then passed his General Education Diploma which enabled him to enter the local Community College.
The Bannatyne Reading Program is an excellent, tested reading program. The Bannatyne Reading Program is unlike any other reading programs currently available. This means you will find many features which are only in the Bannatyne Reading Program. In some Commonwealth countries the program may be referred to as: Bannatyne Programme, or Bannatyne Reading Programme.
Bannatyne Reading, Writing, Spelling and Language Program -- Copyright © 2003 Alexander Bannatyne, PhD
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