Digital Commons Network^™

The Promise Of Academic Learning Time In A Dose-Response Model Of Early Reading Achievement, Benjamin Heuston

Theses and Dissertations

Reading has long been acknowledged to be a critical skill that is best acquired early in life. According to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports, American public school children continue to struggle to master the basics of reading. Although federal funding in real dollars has increased consistently over time, reading scores have not followed suit, suggesting that fiscal resources have not been applied successfully to the variables that are directly related to reading acquisition and achievement. The current state of affairs therefore suggests the need for identifying a fiscally-targetable, instructionally-relevant variable with a direct, causal relationship …

The Effect Of A Rural High School Combination Supplemental Literacy Program On Emerging Readers’ Achievement, Engagement, And Behavior Outcomes, Mark L. Adler

Student Work

No abstract provided.

Title I Program Models Of Delivery: The Impact Of Paraeducator Instruction On Idaho Fourth Grade Reading Proficiency, Janet S. Byers-Kirsch

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Under federal law No Child Left Behind (NCLB, 2002), each state must annually increase the percentage of students proficient on their achievement tests. They must also have a plan to ensure school districts adequately train and evaluate paraeducators or possibly face losing them as instructional assistants. The study was a descriptive design using quantitative analysis from information gleaned from Idaho’s school district Title I Directors and principals statewide who responded to Qualtrics web-based survey with data about their elementary schools’ models of Title I program service delivery, instructional staff and their training. It examined the relationship between the five most …

The Effects Of Singing And Chanting On The Reading Achievement And Attitudes Of First-Graders, Kathy Cochran

All Dissertations

This research involves a mixed-methods case study of the reading instruction in a first grade class taught by Ms. Bing, a veteran of 29 years of first grade teaching. Analyses of classroom field notes and interviews of Ms. Bing provided insights into her methods of teaching reading, which focus largely on the use of song lyrics and chants instead of basal text. Occurring predominantly during the first semester of the school year, the study involved observations of reading instruction given to Ms. Bing's class, which initially numbered 23 students. While the school required all first grade teachers to employ Cunningham's …

Factors That Are Associated With Students' Standardized Reading Achievement Scores, Cherie Nichole Mothershead

Dissertations

This study examined the factors that are associated with students' standardized reading achievement scores. The participants in this study were obtained from two sources: a national and a regional sample. The national participants were located throughout the United States of America, and the regional participants were from a school district in a southeastern state.

The data for the national sample were provided by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a division of the U.S. Department of Education, and the regional sample was provided by surveying all fifth grade teachers in a school district from a southeastern state. These two …

Rapid Automatized Naming And Reading Ability, Rebecca Eisenberg Mccartney

Psychology Dissertations

The Rapid Automatized Naming test (RAN) has been shown to be a strong predictor of reading ability (Katzir et al., 2006), however the nature of this relationship remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the underlying components of RAN, and to then determine whether these components partially account for the relationship between RAN and reading ability. The sample consisted of 100 undergraduate students. The underlying components of RAN that were evaluated included, visual search and scanning, auditory and visual sequencing, discrete naming, confrontation naming, executive functioning and phonological processing. The findings suggest that visual search and scanning, …

The German Proficiency Exam At Brigham Young University: A Validation Study, Tina Grahovac Starr

Theses and Dissertations

In order to continuously improve teaching and learning of a language program, it is a crucial part of program evaluation to assure that its assessment instruments have a beneficial influence on the teaching and learning procedures. For that reason, evidence was gathered to investigate the validity of test scores of the German Proficiency Exam (GPE) used by the German Section of the Germanic and Slavic Languages Department at Brigham Young University. The GPE consists of seven exam components: Listening comprehension, reading, writing, speaking, grammar, vocabulary, and strong verbs. The GPE component scores of 179 students were used to conduct the …

Latino Middle School Students Read To Learn Critical Literacy: Social Justice Through Action Research, Jennifer Grenardo

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

This action research study explored if changes in the reading curriculum, specifically implementation of critical literacy approaches that acknowledge bicultural students, increase student learning as perceived by teachers and students in a Catholic elementary school, where students have been chronically performing at the lowest level in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. By using critical pedagogy (Darder, 1991; Freire, 1970; Giroux, 1983; Macedo, 1994; McLaren, 1988) as a theoretical framework, this action research project investigated the effective elements of critical literacy (Cadiero-Kaplan, 2004; Shor & Pari, 1999) that promote academic learning for Latino middle school students in a low-income Catholic elementary …

A Synthesis Of The Literature On Reading Interventions To Improve Oral Reading Rates, Kelley Douglass

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The traditional model of identification and eligibility assessment in Special Education often is to refer-test-place, which is based on a "wait to fail" procedure. Research has shown positive outcomes for the use of a Response to Intervention (RTI) model of assessment as an alternative method of learning disability identification. However, challenges exist in the selection of high-quality, research-based, effective interventions. A review of the literature was conducted to identify reading intervention options based on Curriculum-Based Measurement outcomes that may be selected for RTI use within the model and the potential barriers of their use. Twenty-one studies were identified examining 31 …

Building Literacy Through Literature, Elvina Tong

Graduate Student Independent Studies

A study of literacy and literature in the early and middle childhood years. Models of teaching literacy are examined and cooperative learning, in place of ability grouping, is recommended.

Do Dibels Nonsense Word Fluency Scores Predict Sat-10 Reading Scores In First Grade? A Comparison Of Boys And Girls In Reading First Schools, Diane E. Napier

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of DIBELS Nonsense Word Fluency Scores in the fall of first grade as a predictor of SAT-10 results. A comparison of boys and girls, three ethnic groups (Caucasian, Hispanic, African-American), and three different reading risk groups were examined using multiple regression analyses. Analysis of data from a total of 27,000 participants from a cohort of Reading First schools in 2003/2004 confirmed Nonsense Word Fluency scores in the fall of first grade to be a significant predictor of the SAT-10 reading scores in the spring. Differences found between and within groups …

The Impact Of Animals With Struggling Readers, Jennifer Heyer

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the impact that dogs have with students that struggle with reading. Several programs have been implemented where students spend time reading books to dogs. During these reading sessions, students tend to be more relaxed and confident with their reading. For this thesis, the researcher collected evidence from six students to assess if reading to a dog assists student's reading achievement. Three students met with the researcher for sixteen weeks and worked on their reading skills. The other three students worked with a dog-reading team. Research was collected by using reading assessments, field …

A Guide To Balanced Literacy—Pertaining To Reading—For The Intermediate Elementary Teacher, Meghann Finn Mcdonald Martin

All Graduate Projects

This project is a resource that offers information on how to implement, plan, and assess reading using the instructional strategies of balanced literacy. A review of the literature on all four instructional strategies of balance literacy is included. This guide will aid intermediate elementary teachers in planning effective instruction. The intent of this project is to provide a realistic and useful source for classroom teachers to utilize when planning and assessing reading instruction. Finally in addition to the sample lesson plans are examples of texts used for each lesson.

How Spanish -Speaking Parents Understand Kindergarten And Support Their Children's Education Within The Context Of A School, Phyllis Barton Schlichter

Doctoral Dissertations

The intention of this study was to examine the experiences of nine Spanish-speaking families in a public kindergarten setting during the 2005-2006 school year to understand how individual agency of parents, access to a community's practices and events, and the resulting interrelationship, shape parent understanding of and participation in school practices and events and ultimately impact student achievement outcomes. In a nation that is becoming increasingly diverse, the Hispanic population is the largest minority group in the country. There are more than two million English-language learners in the U.S. K-3 classrooms with Spanish accounting for almost 80% of the non-English …

Investigating The Effects Of Integrated Systematic Decoding, Spelling And Communication Instruction For Students With Complex Communication Needs, Gretchen Hanser

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the impact of an integrated decoding, spelling and communication intervention on literacy and communication outcomes for students with complex communication needs (CCN). The current study was done with three students with CCN, all of whom used a particular augmentative communication device. Using a non-concurrent multiple baseline across subject design, and a descriptive case study design, the study tested the hypothesis that integrated instruction would lead to improvements in decoding, spelling and, communication using an AAC device. The intervention provided integrated, systematic and explicit instruction through scripted lessons that taught students to …

The Reading Span Test And Its Predictive Power For Reading Comprehension Among Young And Old Adults, Paul James Schroeder

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Although many researchers appear to agree on the usefulness of both simple and complex span tasks, many disagree on the specifics of how or why they measure working memory. The following paper considers competing theories of the relationship between working memory tasks and higher order cognitive function. Consideration is given to simple and complex measures of working memory, various theories about them, and theories based on research within the cognitive aging domain. Subsequent discussion reports the findings from a new study aimed at resolving disagreements about the relationship between lower and higher level cognitive abilities in college-age and older adults.

The Role Of Reading Specialists: A Descriptive Study, Dorothy L Kulesza

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore and document the role of reading specialists. Four elements of educational theory and practice formed the framework: children's reading difficulties, instructional models used to correct reading difficulties, site-based management, and symbolic interactionism. The overall design for this research was a mixed method study. Survey research was used to collect quantitative data; interviews and observations were used to collect qualitative data; Following the processing of survey data, it was displayed in graphs and tables. Qualitative data was analyzed through recursive rounds of considering and interpreting transcripts and field notes; global themes were identified …

The Relationships Of Selected Factors To Success In A College Reading Program, Corene Flowerette Walker Casselle

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of several variables--reading ability (vocabulary, reading comprehension, reading power, and reading efficiency) as measured by the Iowa Silent Reading Tests, locus of control as measured by the Rotter I-E Scale, class attendance, age and sex--to overall success in a college reading improvement program; Subjects. Subjects were students enrolled in three sections of Speed Reading and Study Skills at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), during the First Spring Session, 1977. Sixty-three students participated in the study--thirty-three males and thirty females ranging in age from seventeen to sixty-one years. …

Breaking The "Sound" Barrier To Fluent Reading: An Evaluation Of A Middle School Reading Intervention, Kimberly Simmerman

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The failure to read efficiently accounts for nearly 80% of the children who meet the criteria for a specific learning disability in America. Moreover, many of those children do not receive instruction that is sufficient to improve their reading achievement to within the average range. The current study examines the Breaking the “Sound” Barrier to Fluent Reading program by comparing pretest and posttest scores on individually administered and group statewide tests of reading achievement. The impact of IQ on progress is evaluated and discussed. Students’levels of reading proficiency preintervention and postintervention, as determined by the criteria set forth by the …

The Principal's Role In Affecting Student Reading Achievement, Kathleen J. Beecher

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Case Studies Of Reading Performance Of Male Students And The Single-Sex Classroom, Eric Basilo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Data from standardized test scores shows boys are falling further behind in literacy each year. Thanks to countless hours of research, we can pinpoint some of the causes for this decline. The major challenge educators face is how to keep boys interested in reading while placed in classrooms not necessarily designed to meet their needs. One option being explored is the use of single-sex classrooms. For over 160 years in the United States, public school single-sex classrooms have existed. The thought is that by separating boys and girls for academic classes, certain distractions will be eliminated, the environment can be …

Teacher Perceptions Of Their Effectiveness In Supporting Reading Strategies As A Result Of Collaboration With A Literacy Coach, Sharon S. Miller

Dissertations

Problem

The poor reading and comprehension skills of many secondary-school students present a challenge for secondary teachers, the majority of whom have no training in the teaching of reading. The increasing expectations of the No Child Left Behind legislature add to the pressures on public educators. Is coaching an effective way to support and encourage secondary content-area teachers to include reading strategies in their daily work with students?

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to examine the literacy coach initiative in two small junior-senior high schools. A further purpose was to closely study the coach and two of the …

Richard Rorty And The Cultural Politics Of Literary Criticism, John Copeland

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Simon Stow warns that the influence of political readings of literary texts could be harmful to political discourse. In particular, he cautions against the growing popularity of political “readings” over political “arguments.” Compared with traditional arguments, readings are, Stow argues, poorly suited for liberal political discourse. To demonstrate this point, Stow challenges the political character of Richard Rorty’s reading of Pale Fire. In this essay, I dispute Stow's criticism of Rorty. My basic argument is that literary criticism (or "readings") can be politically significant and that Rorty's acknowledgement of this fact ties him to rather than separates him from, both …

The Great Reading Project (Gifted Readers Enhance Academic Talent): A Gifted-On-Gifted, Cross-Age Tutoring And Mentoring Intervention, Douglas Scott Samson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The GREAT (Gifted Readers Enhance Academic Talent) Reading Project is a quasi-experimental, between-group study that evaluated a 13-week before-school student tutoring/mentoring reading and literacy program. The study examined the effects of the intervention on reading achievement for each group involved, including high-ability gifted fifth grade mentors, high-ability gifted first grade protégés, and above-average first grade “Scholastic Academy” protégés. Its primary goal was to improve academic achievement for above-average students in order to help them formally qualify for gifted services. The secondary goal was to promote and assess academic growth for high-ability students already in the gifted program. Mentor/protégé pairs met …

Phonemic Awareness And Sight Word Reading In Toddlers, Alicia Tonya Mcinnis

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigated emerging phonemic awareness skills and printed sight word recognition abilities in two-year-old toddlers using plain text and MorphoPhonic Face words on flash cards. MorphoPhonic Face words were used to determine if this learning process is enhanced when words are iconically represented to show the first sound and the word's meaning (purposefully creating idiosyncratic cues) using pictures superimposed into the letters. Sixteen (16) age-matched toddlers were assigned to alternate treatment groups and received exposure to both printed and MorphoPhonic pictured words three times weekly for six weeks. During each session, children were taught 16 sight words (8 in …

The Impact Of The “Universal Voyager Literacy” Reading Program On Reading Achievement And Instructional Practices In An Urban School District, Shanika L. Hope

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Studies

Founded in 1994, Voyager Expanded Learning is a provider of K-3 in-school reading programs, as well as K-8 reading intervention programs for school districts throughout the United States. Voyager Universal Literacy's systematic, precise framework fully addresses the five elements of reading instruction, through an explicit succession of ability growth. Voyager Universal Literacy was developed to be a comprehensive program encompassing the subsequent requisites: in-school broad reading program, progress monitoring methods, extensive-day and summer activities, home learning syllabus, implementation monitoring, and on-going professional development. Voyager Universal Literacy Program activities are organized to provide a thorough range and progression for reading instruction. …

English Reading Ability In Young Deaf Signers An Investigation Of Sentence Comprehension, Kathy N. Maxwell

Digitized Theses

We performed a detailed investigation of the robust correlation between ASL and English reading ability in 54 deaf students aged 7;3 to 19;0. Skilled and unskilled signers were assessed on four English sentence structures (actives, passives, pronouns, reflexive pronouns) using a four-alternative forced choice sentence-to-picture-matching task, providing a window into how ASL skill is related to English sentence comprehension. Of interest was the extent to which proficiency in LI provided a foundation for L2 learning as predicted by Cummins’ developmental interdependence hypothesis. Skilled signers outperformed unskilled signers on all sentence types. Error analysis indicated greater word recognition difficulties in unskilled …

The Role Of Syllables In Reading English Multisyllabic Words, Daniel Trinh

Digitized Theses

The goal of the current study was to investigate whether readers recover phonological syllables when reading in English, and specifically, whether syllable effects are more likely to occur when readers process words that have clear syllable boundaries than those that do not have clear syllable boundaries. A syllable congruency paradigm was used in which disyllabic words were presented in two colours that either matched (congruent) or mismatched (incongruent) the syllable boundary. Behavioural data from naming and lexical decision found no evidence of syllable congruency effects. In an event-related potential experiment, syllable congruency effects were found for words with clear marking …