July 1, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
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For the 5th consecutive year, strategies used with U.S. Satellite's WDLC [Weather Data Learning Center] are contributing to high test scores. In 2007 for the first time, over 80% of the students at the Ann Street School achieved the highest rating on the New Jersey ASK-4 Math test. Students, including the English as a Second Language (ESL) population and Resource Students, achieved the 80%+ "Advanced Proficient" scores in Newark's largest public school. A strong administration and faculty in Newark schools and others definitely set the stage for the program to be successful. WDLC is used in schools across the U.S., particularly in NASA Explorer Schools, where a number o teachers received training over the past several years. Former 4th grade teacher and U.S. Satellite educator Pearl Perlstein reports, "The students respond favorably to the weather information they use with their 4th grade math problems. I think since it interests them,and they like it, they are more apt to do well on math questions that are similar but don't necessarily have to do with weather."
The program can be integrated into the 4th grade math curriculum, or used to motivate slower learners in a supplemental implementation. Lead Curriculum Designer and former Science Supervisor, Dr. Kathryn Taylor thinks the bells and whistles come with WDLC for schools looking to provide innovation with a real-time science data component in the curriculum. "These are the types of curricular activities that students need to be successful thinkers and problem solvers for the 21st Century."