One of the State’s newest and very exciting
Lions projects is the Lions Crane Reading Program, which seeks
to improve NM students’ reading proficiency. In the past, NM has
ranked 48th out of 50 with respect to children’s reading
achievement. Many students report symptoms of headaches, seeing
double, getting dizzy, eyes burning, and/or blurry vision during
and after reading which in the past has thought to be normal.
Research has now shown that these symptoms are really a sign of
some underlying problem, which if not remedied, will adversely
impact the student’s reading and hence learning, ability. The
Crane Reading Program has shown that if the problem is
identified, most symptoms can be remedied at the school by the
teacher assisted by a vision specialist. Many times, glasses
will correct the problem. If they do not, then vision skill
development may be needed.
The screening process is primarily a thirty
minute group of tests. The Lion Functional Vision Checklist
identifies the visual problems as well as their severity. The
Lion Copy Forms (four perception drawings) reveal those students
who need visual perceptiontraining, which applies primarily for
students in the early grades. The Lion Spelling Words help
identify students with not only possible visual problems but
auditory and processing problems. The standard eye screening
chart identifies only about 17% of the children who require
help. However, if a retinoscopy test is also performed by an
optometrist, it has been shown that 41% of the students are
identified with astigamatism.
The American Optometric Association performed
a test with 10,000 children that showed that seldom is a child’s
chair and desk at the correct height (should be as high as the
child’s waist). The test revealed that 5% of five year olds
suffered from near-sightedness (myopia). By the time the
students reached second grade, 17% had developed myopia, much of
which is caused by the incorrect desk height. Children spend
many hours in front of a television, which is normally six to
ten feet away. During this time, their eyes do not move or
change focus. However, when they start school, they are expected
to look at small details at arm’s length for prolonged periods
of time and this is when the sight and resulting reading
problems may occur. The Crane Reading Program has been
introduced into schools in Las Cruces, NM, and the results are
phenomenal. As the Program matures, it is expected 70% of the
students with reading disorders will be helped by alleviating,
if not eliminating, those problems at a minimal cost. Lions
Allen and Virginia Crane (505-373-0561) of the Las Cruces Lions
Club are the developers of this great Program and can be
contacted if a Club is interested in more information.
Overview of Program. Students in the
United States rank 16th out of the 19 industrialized nations in
the world in reading proficiency (i.e., to be able to
understand, apply, and analyze challenging subject matter in a
timely manner). Similarly, New Mexico ranks near the bottom of
all states in reading proficiency according to a report
published by the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
The Lions Crane Reading Program (LCRP) addresses this alarming
trend in the State by assessing whether a child is having a
reading problem and if there is one, by determining what can be
done to reduce it, if not eliminate it. If a child is having
reading problems, the Program first provides an examination of a
child’s eyes, which will reveal if eye glasses are needed. Once
it has been determined the child’s eyes are functioning
optimally (either uncorrected or corrected), the child’s reading
proficiency is enhanced through the use of templates and
computer assisted phonics and reading speed enhancement
programs.
The Program also addresses other more subtle
contributors to the degradation of reading proficiency such as
the height of the child’s school desk. The success of the LCRP,
which was incorporated 9 January 2004, has been noted by
dramatic improvement in reading skills (to a student’s current
grade proficiency level and higher) and behavior in students
considered problem children. NM Governor Bill Richardson
recently issued an executive proclamation that specifies 5-11
September is Lions Vision Awareness Week in the State of New
Mexico. The Proclamation specifies the Lions Crane Reading
Program as an essential tool to be used to enhance the reading
proficiency of children in New Mexico.
LCRP Administration. The Lions Crane
Reading Program, which was developed by Lions Alan and Virginia
Crane, was adopted a while back by the Las Cruces Lions. Because
of the Club’s determination and hard work, the Program has been
integrated into several schools in Las Cruces and other areas in
southern NM resulting in marked improvement in reading
proficiency as noted previously. Currently, the Las Cruces Lions
are soliciting other Clubs in New Mexico to adopt the Program as
a signature community service project in their community.
Services Provided To Children by the LCRP.
Children with reading problems in kindergarten through high
school can be helped by LCRP. To date over 2400 elementary,
middle, and high school children in four school districts across
southern NM have benefited from LCRP. The LCRP is also being
used by a local Boys and Girls Club and an after-school program.
Eye Exams. Lions furnish local schoolswith portable vision
testing equipment that can be easily set up at the schools. If
the eye exam reveals a child may have sight problems, the child
is referred to an eye doctor for further examination to
determineif glasses are required. If glasses areneeded and the
child’s parent’s cannot afford them, the attending Lions Club
follows up to find a source such as Medicaid or a charity, and
if none can be found, the Club purchases the glasses for the
child. Note that the vision testing equipment used at the
schools is capable of distinguishingwhether a child has an
astigmatism or is farsighted, eye disorders not commonly that
are identified during a less involved eye screening that does
not include a retinoscopy and eye teaming skills assessment.
Reading Skills Development. Reading
proficiency can be degraded by many factors besides vision
problems. Templates, correct desk height, reading silently,
vision developmental activities, and computer reading programs
can all help a child read faster and more comprehensively in a
short time.
LCRP Costs and Funding. The approximate
cost of the LCRP is approximately $200 per child. A school can
use Title I and Special Education funds to help implement the
Program. Medicaid can pay for some of the vision testing costs.
Grants (to include one from LCIF) can be applied for to
supplement funding. Initially, LCRP was funded through
contributions of Lions and supporting individuals in the
community.
Currently, the LCRP is operating based on
donations of approximately $5500. As the Program progresses, it
is envisioned the annual budget for the Program would increase
to $80,000-$100,000
LCRP Integration Plan. There has been a
five phase Integration Plan developed to provide direction for
Clubs who wish to implement LCRP in their local schools.
Following is a summary of that Plan.
Phase I – Lions initially interface with
the school principal and give an overview of the Program and
benefits. The overview should include providing a copy of the
book, Reading Problems Resolved, and a copy of the LCRP
Introductory Video.
Phase II – Ask the school principal for
permission to present the LCRP Introductory Video and other
videos concerning the Program to the school staff. Answer any
questions clearly and sufficiently and follow up to determine
the level of interest in the Program by the school staff. If the
school agrees to implement the LCRP, meet with them and
establish a plan of action.
Phase III – The sponsoring Club furnishes
the required vision testing equipment and assists the staff in
arranging for an optometrist to come to the school to perform
the vision testing and an optician to fit and provide glasses.
Phase IV - Establish training sessions
for Lions to become proficient with the LCRP templates, gross
motor program, and computer programs. These trained Lions, who
will be the liaisons between the school using the Program and
the Club, will contact the school on a weekly basis to determine
the status of the Program implementation. If there are any
problems, the trained Lions will solve them. Inquiries will also
be made as to the progress of the students and a checklist will
be used to ensure each step of the Program is proceeding as
intended.
Phase V – The Club will assist the staff
in establishing after-school programs for children that need
additional help. Lions can help by doing such things as helping
to run a computer lab and monitoring the progress of the
children. A club can have a fund raiser that explicitly pays for
any costs of the after school programs or to buy glasses for
needy children.