Education Commons^™

Does School Choice Guarantee Reading Success? An Investigation Into The Impact Of West Charter School District On The Reading Success Of Third Graders, Shemekia Lachristy Nero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

South Carolina's Charter School Act of 1996 was passed for the primary reason of improving education for the state. A part of this improvement would come by way of charter schools providing innovative ways of teaching and learning. In 2017 WCSD was established, in hopes of answering the call of the 1996 Charter School Act by providing innovative ways of educating students, thus improving public education in the state. Today, South Carolina's school system ranks 44th in the nation, out-performing only six other states, and there is no data proving or disproving the impact of WCSD on education. The purpose …

All-Day Prekindergarten: Closing The Achievement Gap In Literacy, Theodore Clevenger Iv

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative research study was to compare the impact that half-day and full-day prekindergarten had on economically disadvantaged students on Grade 3 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Reading test results. Data from students who previously attended a half-day and full-day prekindergarten program were analyzed to see which program had a greater impact on STAAR reading scores at the conclusion of third grade. The comparison included two urban school districts with an economically disadvantaged threshold of 70% or greater. Descriptive statistics to obtain frequencies were used to create data that showed how students performed …

Blended Elearning Tools And Upper Elementary Reading Achievement, Angela Dawn Tester-Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Though researchers have demonstrated that adaptive practice software is an effective tool to use with primary grade students, they have not fully established the impact blended eLearning tools have on upper elementary students in a suburban school setting. The problem facing one southeastern state district was that their schools had selected different approaches to address declining reading scores, but the district had no systematic analysis of the chosen blended eLearning tools to determine an improvement in reading growth scores among all students. The purpose of this comparative quantitative project study was to determine the influence different blended eLearning tools, Reading …

Third Grade Arabic And English Dual Language Learners’ Literacy Achievement Associated With The Scott Foresman Reading Street Program, Katina Latrice Walton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The academic success of dual language learners (DLLs) has been studied extensively, but few studies have investigated the effectiveness of the Scott Foresman Reading Street (SFRS) program on DLL struggling readers. The purpose of this quantitative study, grounded in the linguistic interdependence theory, was to compare the Measure of Academic Progress Reading Fluency (MAP RF) Rasch Unit (RIT) scores of third grade DLL struggling readers before and after they participated in 1 year of the SFRS program at Commonwealth School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The RIT scores measure students’ progress between grades. A repeated-measures t test was used to examine …

The Effect Of Increased Recess Time On The Academic Achievement Of Elementary Students, Mark A. Taylor

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Arkansas lawmakers enacted Act 641 of 2019, which increased recess time during the school day from 30 minutes to 40 minutes per day. Recess is defined as unstructured free play for students outside when possible. Recess is an important part of the school day. Recess improves social skills, time on task, positive attitudes towards school and increasing physical activity. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if increasing recess time for third, fourth and fifth grade elementary students had an impact on ACT Aspire tests results. This study was a quantitative study using a series of independent t-tests. …

A Quantitative Evaluation Of A Culturally Relevant Reading Intervention Program On Academic Achievement And Reading Self-Perception In An Urban High School In New Jersey, Jessica Urban

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to understand the possible effects that participation in a culturally relevant reading intervention program had on students’ reading growth and reading self-perception, when compared to students who did not participate in the program but demonstrated similar prior academic achievement. To assess the relationship between program participation and reading achievement, students’ scaled score growth and student growth percentile on the STAR Reading Assessment were compared and analyzed across 3 school years. In each sample, there was no evidence to suggest that the program influenced students’ scaled score or SGP. The multiple regression models revealed that …

Elementary Reading Teachers’ Perspectives On Differentiating Reading Instruction For Low-Socioeconomic Students, Edwina Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Differentiated instruction (DI) is recognized as a factor that could improve the reading disparity among students despite diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Few studies have been conducted that document elementary public school reading teachers’ perspectives on differentiating reading instruction and selecting DI strategies for low-performing, low-socioeconomic (LP-LSES) students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand third- through fifth-grade reading teachers’ perspectives on their abilities to differentiate reading instruction and select DI strategies effectively. The conceptual framework that guided this study was Tomlinson’s DI model and Vygotsky’s social constructivism theory. The research questions focused on the perspectives of third- through …

The Effects Of Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol Strategies On The Reading Proficiency Of English Language Learners, Robin Padget

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

English language learners (ELLs) need additional support to achieve academic success. The problem addressed in this study was the need to know if the sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) support for ELL students was effective in improving their reading achievement. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine if there was a significant difference in reading achievement scores between ELLs who received the SIOP support and those who did not. SIOP provides a framework for teaching both language and content instruction. Krashen’s language acquisition theory was used as the theoretical framework for this study. The research questions compared grade …

The Impact Of A Reading Workshop Approach In A Seventh Grade Supplemental Reading Class, Diana Koscik

Theses and Dissertations

This paper describes a problem of practice that developed due to a downward trend in reading achievement scores in an independent middle school in the Southeast. To address this problem, the researcher conducted an action research, mixed methods study to examine the impact of a reading workshop approach in a seventh-grade supplemental reading class. The mixed methods study was guided by one research question designed to collect quantitative data: What is the impact of a reading workshop approach on seventh-grade students’ reading achievement as measured by the STAR reading assessment? It was also guided by two qualitative research questions that …

Bridging The Gap: Increasing Low Student Reading Achievement In A High Poverty School, Jordan Reynaud

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

Abstract

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) aims to improve the low student reading achievement at an inner-city elementary community school in Saskatchewan, as set out by the provincial Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP). It is framed around a Problem of Practice (PoP), that is based on concerns relating to the difficulties associated with increasing student reading achievement in a high poverty school. With a central vision to develop a desired state of improving student reading achievement, this OIP is viewed through the lens of critical pedagogy. The use of transformational leadership in partnership with a liberal ideology and a critical …

Reader Self-Perceptions And Map Reading Scores: Is There A Relationship?, Acacia Browne

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Academic growth of all students should be the focus of education. The Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment measures academic growth and aligns to state standards. The purpose of this study was to understand students’ perceptions of themselves as readers. Another purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between reader self perceptions and their MAP reading scores. Student data was collected through individual interviews, student surveys, and MAP reading assessment scores. The major themes developed from the data were reading preferences, perceptions of reading assessment, reading at school, reading at home, and reading progress perceptions. …

Best Approaches For English Acquisition With Primary English Language Learners, Roxanna Gario

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The education reform that took place in the emirate of Abu Dhabi set the standard that all students attending state-governed schools would be literate in their native language of Arabic as well as English, which was being taught in schools as a second language. However, school data documented achievement gaps in English reading among English language learners (ELLs) at a primary school in Abu Dhabi. The purpose of this study was to investigate the best approaches used by English medium teachers to teach reading to ELLs in order to provide recommendations for student improvement. Guided by Krashen’s monitor model, this …

The Effects Of Student-Centered Coaching On The Reading Achievement Of Elementary Students And Teacher Instructional Practice, Merlette Frederick-Williams

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

With student achievement as the focus of educational reform, teachers in today’s classrooms are faced with meeting the needs of a diverse population. These teachers need to have the skill set to meet their students’ varied learning needs. This quantitative quasi-experimental study examined the impact of student-centered coaching on student learning and attitude toward reading using a comparative group (archival data, 2016–2017 school year, of students whose teachers did not receive coaching) and an experimental group (2017–2018 school year, students whose teachers received student-centered coaching). Three teachers and 276 students were taken from a Title I school in a suburban …

Kindergarten Parent Engagement And Student Reading Literacy In Title I Schools: A Systematic Literature Review And Meta-Synthesis, Stacy L. M. Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to systematically review research on the relationship between parent engagement and student reading outcomes in Title I schools at Kindergarten level. The following research questions guided this study:

1. What is the relationship between parent engagement and student reading literacy outcomes in low socioeconomic students in kindergarten? Findings show that parent engagement brings parents together with the school staff working with one another to promote a child’s reading literacy. Parent engagement includes the parent as an active member who shares responsibility for a child’s achievement. A need for teacher professional development for teachers on building …

The Relationship Between Adolescent Students' Motivation To Read And College- And Career-Ready Achievement, Brianne Elizabeth Schoch

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between student motivation to read and college- and career-ready achievement. The participants were 60 eighth-grade students from a middle school in western North Carolina. Pitcher’s et al. (2007) Adolescent Motivation to Read Profile (AMRP) survey instrument was used to collect data on student motivation to read and its subsets of self-concept as reader and value of reading. Academic achievement was measured by the North Carolina READY End-of-Grade Assessment English Language Arts/Reading for Grade 8 (NC READY ELA/R 8). Descriptive statistics revealed students could be described as neither having a positive or negative value of reading; …

The Relationship Between Parental Involvement And Reading Achievement, Erin M. Schnell

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This five week investigation determined a relationship exists between parental involvement and reading achievement. Students were separated into two groups, Group A and Group B. Group A contained students who received below the average amount of parental involvement points obtained and Group B contained students who received above the average amount of parental involvement points obtained. Students in Group B made a 1.14 text level gain above students in Group A. Group B also made a 6.34 sight word gain over Group A as well as a 5.57 oral reading fluency gain over students in Group A. The study included …

Evaluating The Correlations Between Teacher–Student Relationships, Friendship, And Reading And Writing Achievement, Jessica Ridder

MSU Graduate Theses

The purpose of this correlational study is to assess the extent to which teacher–student relationships, children’s friendship, writing scores and reading scores are related to one another among young children. Understanding the correlations between these variables could further assist teachers and students when working towards successful school experiences. Measures used with kindergarten and first grade teachers and students (n=83) include the validated short form of the Student–Teacher Relationship Scale, a whole group oral survey adapted from the Friendship Features Interview for Young Children, and reading and writing scores. Relationship areas studied include teacher–student closeness and conflict, as well as friendship …

A Study Of The Relationships Between Teacher Support Behaviors, Teacher Effectiveness, And Student Achievement Among Fifth-Grade Students, Lori D. Allen

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

According to Marzano (2017), classroom teachers are the single most important factor within a school’s locus of control that contributes to student learning. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between fifth-grade teachers’ support behaviors as measured by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System™ (CLASS™) and achievement of fifth-grade students in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. The research design was a non-experimental, correlational exploration of archival data extracted from the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) database. Mean CLASS™ composite, domain and dimension scores of 70 fifth-grade teachers were correlated to mean z-scores of 70 fifth-grade students on …

The Impact Of Online Instruction On Fourth Grade Students’ Reading Self-Efficacy And Achievement, Chad E. Wickard

Ed.D. Dissertations

This quantitative, quasi-experimental study examined the relationships between self-efficacy and reading achievement as mediated by an online instructional delivery system called MobyMax® over a period of time between a pretest and a posttest. The sources of self-efficacy were also investigated for the individual contribution of each of the four sources; process accomplishments or mastery experiences, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and physiological states. Finally, the current study explored the relationships across gender and ethnicity (White, Black, Hispanic, and other). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to organize the data using a mixed factorial ANOVA to analyze the interventions’ …

The Effects Of The Acquisition Of Digital Badges On Second Grade Literacy, Mindi Outlaw Collins

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

School leaders are continuously searching for innovative educational practices such as the use of digital badges to curtail illiteracy. Digital badges are electronic representations of academic achievements that offer a more cohesive and comprehensive account of learning. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental research study was to determine the impact of digital badge acquisition on reading level growth of second grade students in a K-2, Title I, rural, public elementary school in the southeastern United States. The results revealed that the elementary students who earned digital badges (experiential group) for reading outperformed the students who did not earn badges (comparative …

The Effects Of Targeted Intervention On Low-Income Urban Students' Reading Achievement, Raye Wood

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Today’s students are tasked with taking and passing standardized tests each year. Recent tests show that only 36% of the nation’s fourth-grade students are reading at or above proficiency level (Nations Report Card, 2017). Self-regulation strategies, strategies that help students monitor, plan, and make adjustments to their learning during a learning cycle, have been shown to increase student learning outcomes. This quasi-experimental study examines whether the implementation of an intervention in self-regulation has an impact on student reading achievement. In this study, an experiential group of students participated in a 13-week intervention that taught strategies for monitoring learning and progress …

A Pilot Study On The Correlation Of Reading Improvement Using Colored Overlay Paper In Elementary Age Students With Reading Challenges, Tim Salyers

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

This study examined the use of colored overlay on reading abilities of students with reading deficits in the 5th grade at Lebanon Elementary School during the 2013-2014 school year. This study was guided by the previous research of which has shown that the use of colored overlay increases the reading abilities of students challenged by their reading deficits. The study was a quasi-experimental quantitative pilot research that compared the reading level before and after colored overlay paper was placed over reading passages in a sample size of six 5th grade students. These students were between nine and eleven years of …

Leadership Practices In Similar Schools With Varying Primary Grade Reading Outcomes: A Comparative Multiple-Case Study, Jacqueline M. Cuthill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students who are below grade level before they leave third grade are less likely to graduate. A large number of schools are failing to increase student achievement in reading, especially for students of color and those who are economically disadvantaged. Leadership can influence student achievement; however, literature lacks specifics about leadership practices that could help school leaders improve student outcomes. This multiple-case study explores the leadership practices in three similar elementary schools with varying primary grade reading outcomes and contributes details about the leadership functions of Setting Direction, Developing People and Redesigning the Organization (Leithwood, Seashore, Anderson, & Wahlstrom, 2004). …

Evaluation Of An Adaptive Reading Program At A Title I Public Elementary School, Monica M. Gordon

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to evaluate the I-station adaptive reading program and determine its impact on reading proficiency of third-grade students. The school of study was a Title I school with proficiency rates for third-grade students of about 40% annually. The district recommendation for student usage mirrored the recommended minutes per week established by Imagination Station, the I-station parent company.

The program evaluation utilized the context-input-process-product model components, measuring process and product. There were two research questions underpinning the study: 1. Process: Is the I-station program being used with fidelity at the school of study to achieve program intended …

Shake, Rattle, And Read: An Analysis Of An Adaptation Of A Multisensory Phonics Program’S Impact On The Reading Achievement Of Kindergarten Students, Heather Mascuch Holmes

Theses and Dissertations

This paper describes a problem of practice stemming from the disparity in reading achievement that exists among kindergarten students due to varying life and academic experiences. This action research study investigated the impact of a multisensory instructional program that attempts to improve students’ decoding skills, and therefore, overall reading ability by answering the following question: How does an adaptation of the Project Read Primary Phonics program affect the reading level of kindergarten students as measured by the DRA2+? This study employed an action research methodology, specifically Mertler’s (2014) action research cycle: planning, acting, developing, and reflecting. The planning stage was …

An Evaluation Study Of Fifth-Grade Independent Reading And Reading Achievement, Kari Allen

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Independent reading has been implemented in elementary classrooms for decades. However, what independent reading looks like, teacher expectations related to it, and student attitudes toward it differ greatly depending on the individual classroom. Increasing demands on teachers to improve student achievement has resulted in more time spent in teacher-directed instruction and teacher-selected text, and less time for students to read self-selected, engaging text, resulting in lack of interest and purpose for reading (Gran & DeVoogd, 2008). Effective implementation of independent reading is necessary to improve student achievement, increase reader stamina, and build positive attitudes toward reading in general (Lee, 2011). …

Third-Grade Teachers' Perceptions Of Balanced Literacy, Kimberly S. Harrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In response to fourth grade students' performance on the National Assessment of Education Progress reading test, states across the nation have enacted laws which stipulate third-grade students achieve reading proficiency in order to be promoted. With the passage of the South Carolina Read to Succeed Act 2014, school leaders in an urban school district implemented a balanced literacy framework to address 3rd grade students' low reading achievement. Approached from a constructivist framework, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to present 3rd grade teachers' perceptions of the balanced literacy framework with regard to students' reading achievement. Vygotsky's theories of …

Effects Of The Mindplay Computer Program On Student Reading Achievement: An Action Research Study, Kara Mann

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative Action Research study examined how a computer-assisted reading program, called MindPlay, affected reading achievement in four second-grade classrooms within a Title I School. The identified problem of practice at Amazing Elementary School (AES) involved numerous years of underachieving reading results for underprivileged, racially diverse children. The majority of primary school students at AES are considered “at-risk” given their reading performance. The study explored whether a different intervention technique would increase student reading achievement, specifically in fluency, phonics, and comprehension, within a Title I context. Therefore, the research question that guided this study was as follows: “What is the …

Novanet's Effect On The Reading Achievement Of At-Risk Middle School Students, Alice Harris Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At-risk and special education students in the 7th and 8th grades in a rural middle school in western Alabama, in the years following the introduction of the No Child Left Behind federal legislation in 2002, failed to achieve adequate yearly progress in reading. School districts are increasingly implementing flexible computer-based intervention programs to improve their students' reading achievement. Using a between-group design, the purpose of this study was to determine whether NovaNET, a newly adopted reading intervention program, enhanced the reading attainment of at-risk and special education students. Guided by constructivist theory, archived reading achievement data from the 2009-2013 Alabama …

Special Education Teachers' Sense Of Efficacy And Reading Achievement Of Students With Severe Disabilities, Melissa Victoria Beck Wells

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Assessment scores indicated students with severe disabilities (SWSD) have not been performing to their maximum potential, which may lead to lower quality of life after graduation. Teacher efficacy has been shown to impact student achievement; thus, this study involved exploring the teacher efficacy of the teachers of SWSD. Tschannen-Moran, Woolfolk Hoy, and Hoy's teacher efficacy conceptual framework guided this nonexperimental correlation study to investigate if levels of self-efficacy, years of overall teaching experience, and years of teaching experience with Grade 3 to 8 SWSD were predictors of student reading achievement in a New York City school district. Two open-ended questions …