ATA Test Scores and Comments.pmd

REPORT FROM SIGNAL MEDIA PUBLISHERS
Test Results and Educator/Student Comments regarding
Adventure Tales of America: An Illustrated History of the United States, Vol.1, 1492-1877, by Jody Potts, Ph.D.
Improved TAAS/TAKS Scores at Memorial Preparatory School, Garland, Texas,
achieved by academically at-risk eighth grade social studies students using
Adventure Tales of America
TAAS AND TAKS RESULTS:
¨ FROM 20 TO 98 PERCENT PASSING RATE WITHIN SEVEN YEARS, 1997-2004
¨ FROM 13TH TO 1ST PLACE IN THE GARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, GARLAND, TEXAS
Memorial Preparatory School is an alternative education middle school for academically at-risk students in the
Garland Independent School District (GISD), Garland, Texas. In 1997, only 20 percent of its eighth grade students
passed the TAAS (Texas Assessment of Academic Skills) social studies test, and it ranked 13th among the GISD’s 13
middle schools. For the past four years, 2001 to 2004, more than 90 percent of its eighth grade students passed TAAS
or its successor TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills), and it ranked either first or second in the GISD.
How did such a remarkable accomplishment occur? Terry Cherry, eighth grade social studies teacher at Memorial
Preparatory School, attributes the escalating test scores to his use of Adventure Tales of America: An Illustrated History of
the United States, Vol. 1, 1492-1877, by Jody Potts, as a textbook from 1997 to 2004. Initially, he used the textbook as a
supplementary resource. By the year 2001 the textbook and its five ancillaries had become his only resource, and his students’ test scores zoomed into the 90th percentile. Comments from Mr. Cherry and his students accompany this report.
Percent of Memorial Preparatory School
Eighth Grade Students Passing TAAS or TAKS, 1997-2004
(The number of eighth grade students ranged from 50 to 60.)
* In 2004, the standard
for passing was raised
from 18 to 22 correct
answers out of 48
questions.
How has Adventure Tales of America contributed to the scholastic success of students at Memorial Preparatory School?
Whole brain learning is the answer. Author Jody Potts, historian and left/right brain learning specialist at Southern
Methodist University, has incorporated left and right brain learning techniques in a text/illustration format that
simultaneously presents words, structure, and analysis to the left brain and pictures, humor, and drama to the right
brain. Her work is an innovative application of Roger W. Sperry’s 1981 Nobel Prize-winning discovery that such an
approach accelerates learning.
Adventure Tales of America is published by Signal Media Publishers. Used as a textbook throughout the country,
it has helped raise test scores for gifted and grade-level students as well as at-risk students.
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COMMENTS FROM TERRY CHERRY TO JODY POTTS
Impact of Adventure Tales of America on TAAS and TAKS Scores of
Eighth Grade Students at Memorial Preparatory School in Garland, Texas
1998—“During the 1997-98 school year all my students used Adventure Tales of America. The difference was obvious.
I teach at Memorial Preparatory Middle School in the Garland Independent School District, Garland, Texas. The
school is for students who are academically at risk . . . .
In 1997, 20% of our eight grade students passed the Social Studies TAAS test. This past May we received the results
of the 1998 TAAS test which 43% passed. I repeat the difference was obvious.
You have done a great service to U.S. History teachers, administrators, and especially students. Your book has also
made teaching much more enjoyable and exciting.”
2001—“Adventure Tales of America hit another home run this Spring. The TAAS score for the 8th grade at
Memorial Preparatory in Social Studies was 91% passed. This is up from 70% last year and 50% in 1999….
The students at Memorial are Academically at risk; these scores are unheard of for most 8th grade students in the
state let alone from those at risk. Not only did we increase 21 percentage points, we were 8 percentage points higher
that the average for Garland ISD. I truly give most of the credit to your wonderful textbook.
This is the only textbook, which my students use. I’ve enclosed letters from the students of this year’s 8th grade. You
can read how much they appreciated the book, but how much more they felt they learned from your book versus
other History textbooks they’ve had in earlier grades. In the four years we have had a complete set for all students, I
have been able to use the book more effectively each year.”
2002—“For the second year Memorial Preparatory eighth grade students had over 90 percent passing the TAAS test.
In 2001 the percent passing was 91 and in 2002 the score was raised to 93. Memorial Preparatory is a school for
students who are academically at risk and this year our scores were higher than a school in the Garland ISD which is
for academic excellence. . . . Parents who read their student’s book at home say to me how much they enjoy the book
and reading History is finally fun . . . .”
2004—“For the fourth year in a row the eighth grade students at Memorial Preparatory have finished either first
or second in Garland Independent School District TAKS scores.
The GISD average was 90.7% and the Memorial students score was 95.8%. For the third year running our scores
were higher than the district’s school for academic achievers. Memorial is a school for academic at risk students.
The majority of the credit is recognized to be our use of Adventure Tales of America. Your textbook covers all the
objectives required for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Our students are able to enjoy reading a history
textbook, many for the first time, and continue to retain information for successful state assessment.
Thank you for your efforts and understanding of middle school students. I receive no complaints about the book
from students, parents, or administrators. Many students ask me if they will have a book like this when the go to
high school. You have created a marvelous textbook, not only from the student’s perspective, but I truly enjoy
teaching from Adventure Tales of America.
The success Memorial Preparatory has achieved in the past seven years on the TAAS and TAKS test is mainly
attributed the sole use of Adventure Tales of America in the classroom. You have made a difference is the lives of
students and increased their knowledge of the history of our country.”
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COMMENTS ABOUT ADVENTURE TALES OF AMERICA
Eighth Grade Students at Memorial Preparatory School
Garland Independent School District; Garland, Texas
“I learned more from this history book than my 5th, 6th, and 7th grade history books combined.
Adventure Tales of America was easy to understand and the pictures made it fun to learn about history.”
“Your book has worked my mind to the fullest. It is a great way to make history come alive on a sheet of paper.
This shows us time periods and what types of clothing they wore. It truly does work both parts of the brain.
It made my parents want to read it and take history again.”
“Your book is great! It has inspired me to learn more about history. The pictures really helped me to understand
history in new ways. The way the drawings have witty and funny comments help me stay on your pages and not get
bored. Reading your book made history better and not a complete bore. Great book--POW! Wow! Zam!”
“Your book helped me raise my grades. Your textbook is not like others--this book makes history fun, not boring
like it was last year in 7th grade. I understand what the book is trying to tell me. Your book is awesome cause it got
me good grades. With the help of your book, I now have fun during history class.”
“This book has helped my grades increase. It is better than any other regular history book. The pictures in the
book help you understand the subject better.”
“I think the book is more fun than other textbooks. My parents thought it was a cool book. My sister was mad
because she never had a book like the one you wrote.”
“Your book has been a great success for me. I really enjoyed reading your book. It made me look at history in a
whole different way. I have learned more by looking at and reading your book than I have reading those other
history books.”
“I think your book is one of the world’s greatest textbooks. I think that every kid would like all textbooks to be
like this amazing book. In fact, I heard from my teacher that some adults enjoy it as well.”
“This book is a wonderful way to learn history through pictures and text. I certainly learned more with this book
than I learned last year with the normal textbook with pages and pages of boring text.”
“I’ve seen other middle school history textbooks and they look dumb. They talk about history in a way that makes
me sleepy. But your book is cool!!! I like the pictures. My brother likes the book, too, and he’s only nine. My Mom
says that we could buy one because it’s a good book to have.”
“I think your book is a great learning tool for us kids. It helps us to remember what we learned. Your book makes
you want to learn more. With your book, I think ‘alright, time for my history homework.’ But with those other
textbooks I think ‘ah, man, it’s time to do my history homework.’ It has made me love history even more than I
already did.”
“When our teacher told us he was going to pass out textbooks everyone moaned and groaned. As he started
checking books out to us, the first few were amazed. No one could take his or her eyes off the book. We said
‘Look at this --did you see that page?’ I’m glad that there are a few adults that think they can help us by using
pictures. When our teacher gives us a test, all I have to do is think back to the pictures.”
“This is a better and easier way to learn history. Thank you.”
“Thanks for writing this book. You’re my eighth grade life saver.”
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COMMENTS FROM EDUCATORS IN TEXAS, VIRGINIA, AND ARKANSAS
regarding higher test scores of students using
Adventure Tales of America, An Illustrated History of the United States, Vol. 1, 1492-1877
“The San Antonio Independent School District’s 2002 TAAS scores in Social Studies were 12 percent higher than
the 2001 scores. A contributing factor was the use of class sets of Adventure Tales of America in all seventeen of our
middle schools. Adventure Tales of America was particularly beneficial for our at-risk students who are primarily visual
learners. The reluctant readers were attracted to the book.”—Amy Jo Baker, Social Studies Specialist,
San Antonio Independent School Distsrict; San Antonio, Texas
“I am happy to report that the 2001-02 Social Studies department at the Pearl C. Anderson Middle Learning
Center has completed the first year of official TAAS accountability with gains of nearly 20% using Adventure Tales
of America as a primary text!! With Adventure Tales of America as the primary TAAS instructional tool, our scores
were raised from 52 percent to 71 percent! Both the students and the teachers loved learning with Adventure Tales of
America. The left brain-right brain approach allowed all students to master objectives that they otherwise might not
have been successful in mastering.”—Kelvin Manuel, Pearl C. Anderson Learning Center,
Dallas Independent School District; Dallas, Texas
“My students loved Adventure Tales of America with its left and right brain techniques, and our 2002 TAAS scores
at the O’Banion campus went from 72 to 85.”—Rose Schroeder, Teacher, Obanion Middle School,
Garland Independent School District; Garland, Texas
“Ninety percent of my students are making A’s with Adventure Tales of America.”—Suzanne Meyer, Taylor Middle
School; Warrenton, Virginia; Teacher of the Year (1998) Virginia Council for Social Studies
“Adventure Tales of America, made a substantial difference in our Arkansas Minimum Performance Test scores.
There was a 19 percent increase over last year’s scores on the social studies section of the test. Furthermore, after
our American history teachers shared the book’s left/right brain strategies with other eighth-grade teachers, there was an
increase on every section of the test.”—Gail Bradford, Principal, Cloverdale Junior High School; Little Rock, Arkansas
“The results achieved on the social studies section of the Arkansas Minimum Performance Test were simply
remarkable. Students in the control group who worked with Adventure Tales of America made an average gain of
15 to 30 points, while students who did not work with the book made only marginal gains. I strongly encourage
you to share your book and research with other schools, principals, and teachers across the country.”—Charity Smith,
Principal, Southwest Junior High School; Little Rock, Arkansas
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COMMENTS ABOUT ADVENTURE TALES OF AMERICA
Fifth Grade Students at McCullough Middle School,
Highland Park Independent School District; Dallas, Texas
McCullough Middle School is a high-performing school composed entirely of fifth grade students. At the request
of many students who wrote appealing letters to the PTA, this organization bought class sets of Adventure Tales of
America for all ten fifth grade classrooms. The Dad’s Club then provided as many Adventure Tales of America Student
Activities Books. The students’ comments below indicate that Adventure Tales of America is effective for above as well
as below grade-level students and for fifth grade as well as eighth grade students.
“This book gave me more information in three months than I have gotten in three years from other history books.”
“I like the drawings, not only because they were fun to look at and read but because they make it easier to visualize
actual events. This is probably the best textbook I have ever read.”
“Adventure Tales fills your mind when you read it. When you have a test, you can study by looking in the book and
remembering the pictures.”
“I am right brained, and not many history books are written for a right-brained person. I love all the maps,
timelines, and vivid characters.”
“Adventure Tales of America is not a normal textbook. It is a wonderful edge-of-your-seat book. On top of that,
the lessons don’t leave out any facts.”
“The creativity in Adventure Tales of America makes you want to read the whole thing the minute you pick it up.”
“This book makes history tests a breeze!”
“The book catches your attention by the historical characters saying their exact words, just as real people do.”
“Overall, Adventure Tales of America is the number one history book!”
“Adventure Tales of America is a great book to read because it gets to the point quickly.”
“This book has a lot of good drawings instead of photographs and uses them to tell the story of America’s past.
Students who use this book next year will think history is fun.
“Information is easy to find and is also very clear, unlike other history books I have read.”
“Adventure Tales of America has vivid information that paints a colorful picture in your mind.”
“This is a book I like because it teaches history in a way I can understand. When I see the pictures in it,
I can remember it mentally.”
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