Education Commons^™

Reader Role Models: How Cross-Age Tutoring Can Help Second And Sixth Graders Improve Their Reading Skills, Robert Mccabe

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this capstone is: “How does a reading intervention program at an urban charter school taught by sixth grade students to second grade students, commonly known as cross-age tutoring, affect the reading test scores of both groups?” This action research study examines the practice of cross-age tutoring and details the development of a reading program involving eight sixth grade and eight second grade students in an urban charter school setting. Using a mixed methods design, the results indicated significant growth and improvement for the second grade students, while the sixth grade students showed more mixed results.

A Descriptive Study Of Implementing Tiered Systematic Phonics Intervention Through The Colorado Read Act, Geoffrey H. Stokes

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question explored in this capstone was, how might I aid schools and districts in implementing district-wide systematic phonics intervention, both instructionally and organizationally? It documents Denver Public Schools (DPS) efforts to implement the READ act, a comprehensive law in which all students are evaluated in reading and assigned intervention if needed. The capstone explores how DPS can implement tiered systematic phonics intervention as part of the READ act. The paper reviews the most current peer reviewed research regarding the efficacy of phonics intervention. Using the methodology of a descriptive study, the capstone lays out a detailed logistical proposal …

Best Practices For Co-Teaching Literacy In The Secondary Language Arts Classroom, Anne Robenhorst

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the best practices for co-teaching literacy in the secondary language arts classroom. Participants of the study included 34 tenth grade students in a co-taught English class who completed anonymous questionnaires, and two language arts teachers, one special education teacher and one assistant principal were interviewed. Qualitative data was gathered regarding academic grades and state testing scores in the area of reading. The student survey feedback indicated positive perceptions related to the co-taught environment, primarily increased writing skills. Teacher interviews highlighted the most effective co-teaching models and stressed the importance of strong administrative …

How Anchor Charts Can Engage Students In Interactive Read-Alouds, Christine Simmet

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question explored and answered in this project was, can anchor charts make readalouds more interactive and engaging? This project documents the exploration and creation of anchor charts in a read-aloud setting. In conjunction with the Journeys’ (2009) curriculum the researcher created four anchor charts with a goal to create more engagement and increase the interactive quality of read-alouds. The researcher utilizes different types of anchor charts to see student engagement responses. She details the literature surrounding anchor charts as well as giving some background regarding read- alouds and engagement strategies for young learners. The researcher then describes the …

An Examination Of The Key Factors That Impact The Gender Gap In Reading, Phyllis Pegram

Education Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation was designed to provide information on the factors that impact the male gender gap in reading. Disparities between the reading achievement of boys and girls have long been a concern for educators. There are many reasons boys are lagging behind in reading such as the lack of male role models, stereotyping, lack of interest in reading material, and differences in brain development in boys and girls. Peer pressure also plays a role in the reading success of boys and reading may be considered a feminine activity. Another reason boys do not perform well in reading is their great …

Examining The Effects Of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Read 180 Program On Reading Achievement And Self-Efficacy In Middle Schools, Amanda Michelle Cox

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if improving reading achievement through Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s (HMH) READ 180 program impacted a student’s reading self-efficacy. Of the students participating in this study, particular attention was placed on the factors of gender, ethnicity, and the length of time students were exposed to HMH’s READ 180 program.

The setting for this research was three middle schools in upstate South Carolina. The schools sampled were from a combination of urban, suburban, and rural populations. The study’s methodology was quantitative and correlational.

When reviewing the results of the study, the research indicated that there …

Assessment Of The Impact Of Reading Mastery Implementation On A Group Of First To Third Grade Students Receiving Special Education Services, Christopher Martin Jones

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

Reading Mastery was instituted with a group of first to third grade students receiving special education services as a supplemental reading intervention to regular education reading instruction. The students were enrolled in a kindergarten through eighth grade rural, Title I school with a high Native American population. Student performance was assessed with the easyCBM reading measure and the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System (Field Study, 2016).

Results showed that students who received the Reading Mastery intervention performed with mixed results on the easyCBM measure not making clear gains in all areas. The Fountas and Pinnell measure showed gains commensurate …

How Can Teachers Motivate Struggling Middle School Readers In An Intervention Classroom?, Heather Young

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this curriculum was: how can teachers motivate struggling middle school readers in an intervention classroom? The author focused her research in the areas of struggling readers, middle school intervention classrooms, and motivation. The research was expanded to include influences on motivation, authentic instruction, and the role of relationships. The goal was to create a curriculum that could be easily implemented and adapted to fit the needs of teachers. A curriculum was created surrounding three main subjects: student choice, building relationships and sustained student reading.

Synergy Between Digital And Traditional Literacy Practices: A Framework For Building A Reading Culture In A Secondary School, Nina Kositsky

Doctoral Dissertations

Integration of digital technologies into the English classroom requires that we rethink pedagogical frameworks within which education occurs. This study examines traditional and digital literacy practices in a high school that committed itself to building a strong reading culture among its students as it digitized its library collection. Through a series of in-depth, phenomenologically based interviews and classroom observations, the researcher focused on identifying factors that foster an interest in literary reading as a personally meaningful literacy experience among 21st century adolescents and explored the following questions: What kind of teaching practices promote this interest? What kind of social environments …

The Influence Of Grade Level Flexible Grouping On Reading Achievement, Jeanna Czerniecki Velechko

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the influence of grouping formation on the scores on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK 3) in Grade 3 English Language Arts. Grouping within the general education classroom was compared to grouping between the same grade level. The analysis included a multiple regression model for student variables gender, race/ethnicity, prior ability and grouping status. All data explored in this study pertained to 155 third graders in one New Jersey suburban district during the 2012-2013 academic school year. The results of the study revealed prior ability in reading influenced the scores on the NJASK 3 …

A Correlation Between English Oral Language Proficiency And The Success Of The Reading Recovery Program For Karen Students, Heidi Wheelock

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This case study explores how the success of Karen Reading Recovery students correlates to their English oral language proficiency. Three first-grade Karen students in the second round of Reading Recovery were assessed to find their English oral language proficiency. Their pretest and posttest scores from the program were analyzed as well as observation data about their success in the use of semantic and syntactic prompts. Interview data from the Reading Recovery teachers about the exit status of the students was analyzed for recurring themes. The results show that English oral language proficiency has an affect on the degree of success …

A Mixed-Methods Study On Student Achievement In Reading And Teacher Professional Development In A K-2 Urban Public School Setting, Michelle Chism

Dissertations

To determine if a relationship existed between teacher professional development and student reading achievement for grades K-2, the researcher conducted a mixedmethods study to examine reading achievement and teacher professional development in a Midwest urban school district. If the researcher was able to show a relationship between teacher professional development and student reading achievement, recommendations could be made on research-based professional development models proven to increase student academic achievement and improve instructional practices within an underachieving school district. To determine if a relationship existed between the above-mentioned variables, the researcher examined student standardized reading achievement scores and teacher survey responses …

The Effects On Reading Comprehension When Using Prompts In Book Clubs, Kelly Jo Bridge

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this Capstone is: What is the effect on reading comprehension when using talk prompts with second grade students in book clubs? The action research that was conducted involved two book clubs that were each made up of four second grade students. One of the groups used talk prompts to enhance the accountable talk in book clubs and the other group had a book club discussion without the use of talk prompts. Both groups took a pretest before the book club discussion and a posttest after the book club discussion. The data revealed that when second …

How Graphic Novels Affect Reading Comprehension And Memory Recall Of Story Elements For Language Learners, Stephen Jerome Meuer

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

English Language Learners can experience a range of issues in regards to reading and comprehending text due to their language interference, and therefore require an arsenal of tools, scaffolds, and differentiation to be employed by EL and content teachers alike. A possible tool includes graphic novels, as both a visual aid and literary text, in terms of reading comprehension and memory recall of the plot elements read. My research attempted to measure differences between scores on student written retells of each chapter of a class novel read, with some chapters being independently read by the student in the traditional novel …

Investigating Text Talk As A Tool For Improving Vocabulary And Comprehension Skills For English Learners In Response To Intervention Groups, Roshawn Terese Sook

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if Text Talk is a viable vocabulary-teaching tool for English Learners. The students of the study were provided additional support in vocabulary and reading skills based on formal and informal grade level assessments. The children received supplemental instruction within the RtI framework. The research approach was an action research project that took place during an extended reading period. The Text Talk program was tested with first, second and third grade students as an intervention strategy. The study was carried out over a four-week period. The first two weeks the Text Talk guide …

Reading As A Resource: Exploring Reading Habits And Multicultural Awareness And Acceptance In Undergraduate Students, Megan E. Owens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Considerable research has been conducted examining the benefits of diversity on campus and diversity programming for undergraduate students. However, minimal research has been focused on connecting reading fiction as a potential resource for diversity programming. Diversity courses, racial awareness workshops, and service learning opportunities are all supported by research for their transformational influence on students’ attitudes and perceptions towards minority and underrepresented groups on campus. Emerging studies have established that reading narrative fiction can enhance readers’ empathic and multicultural attitudes, shift perspectives and outlooks, and enhance moral reasoning. Benefits such as these could be harnessed to cultivate a campus culture …

The Potential For Using Adaptive And Assignable Instructional Technology To Increase Student Agency And Achievement, Blair Allen Mishleau

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question in this capstone was: How might teachers’ use of personalized learning in elementary reading through adaptive and assignable instructional technology programs lead to accelerated student achievement and agency? This curriculum development capstone started with researching the current literature on blended learning, instructional technology and student agency/achievement. From there, a survey for teachers was created to probe their mindset on technology’s place in the classroom. Using the Design Thinking Process, a curriculum was then developed that leveraged both the literature review done along with the teacher survey. This curriculum, a prototype, will be tested after the capstone and …

How Can Implementing Oral Language Strategies Support First Grade Struggling Readers?, Alexandra Kraemer Askew

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how can implementing oral language strategies support first grade struggling readers? In this project, action research was conducted in an urban first grade classroom with nine student participants. All of the student participants were categorized as first grade struggling readers and came from many different diverse backgrounds. During the research two oral language strategies were implemented during a four-week period with two reading groups. Pre and post assessments were given to monitor student progress and gauge the success of the strategy implementation. At the end of the four-week period, all students made …

Moving To A District Balanced Literacy Program: A Change Leadership Plan, Cynthia A. Marks, Carol A. Benda

Dissertations

Based upon the requirements of the No Child Left Behind mandate, schools that failed to achieve the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) designation for two consecutive years were required to implement a comprehensive school reform model. This change plan examined the movement from the comprehensive school reform model Success For All (SFA) to a balanced literacy framework within Harmony District 841. The framework advocated for balanced literacy instruction that supported the integration of authentic reading and writing experiences, application of literacy strategies and skills, implementation of a culturally relevant text, focus on professional development for teachers, and provision for effective instructional …

What Motivates Reluctant Male Readers?, Cheryl Ann Tartaglione

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to better understand the role of reading motivation in a group of students at the Thomas E. Bowe School in southern New Jersey. I wanted to what motivates this group of boys to read and how typical they might be to other reluctant male readers. Qualitative inquiry strategies such as surveys, student interviews, interactive graphic organizers and a teacher interview were used. Upon analyzing the data, motivation for reading was poor. However, student book choice and commonalities in genre selection were consistent with current research. Struggling male readers look for teacher input and …

The Impact Of Reading Fluency Instruction On Reading Fluency, Abdul Wright

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this capstone was, how does reading fluency instruction impact reading fluency? The inspiration for this capstone sparked from the first year-end summative assessment that one teacher proctored, and the struggles those students faced on that assessment. Moreover, the author of this research study looks to examine the impact that reading fluency instruction has on students’ ability to read fluently. The majority of students at this charter school in Minneapolis are students who come from low income families. This study documents the impact that fluency instruction had on reading fluency and determines the following: 1) Reading …

How Can Incremental Rehearsal Be Used To Facilitate Successful Sight Word Acquisition For English Language Learners To Improve Their Sight Word Reading Ability?, Elliot Kohl

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this capstone was, how can Incremental Rehearsal be used to facilitate successful sight words acquisition for English Language Learners to improve their sight word reading ability? It documents one teacher’s creation of a curriculum unit that serves as an intervention for struggling English Language Learner readers in grades K – 3. It draws upon the research done on a flashcard drill method known as Incremental Rehearsal. With this method, the teacher created a curriculum to help struggling readers memorize a sight word vocabulary, with the intent of helping them increase their fluency. The author documents …

Implementing Effective Instructional Reading Settings For English Learners, Kathryn Louise Quesada

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this study was, How do English Language (EL) teachers implement the most effective instructional reading setting for their students? As the percentage of English Learners is consistently increasing in the United States, the question in most schools is what reading setting is best for their instruction. This study focuses on both sheltered instruction (pull-out model) and coteaching instruction (push-in model) as common options for reading instruction. The author examines a school with a high English Learner population and their successes and challenges with several reading setting models. As a mixed-methods study, several types of data …

‘What Do You Do With An Idea?’ Differentiating A Fourth -Grade Reading Curriculum Using Gardner’S Theory Of Multiple Intelligences, Medora Elaine Schou

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This curriculum­based capstone answers the research question: How can a fourth­grade reading curriculum be differentiated using Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences? The research examines the value in differentiating curriculum to meet the needs of learners within classrooms. In addition, the author explores literature on best practices in differentiated reading instruction and its connection to MI theory. A twenty day unit was developed using an Understanding by Design framework (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005), wherein Common Core State Standards form the basis for established goals. Student interest, readiness, learning profile, and choice drive the learning activities and assessment options throughout the unit. …

Classroom Environment And Effects On Adolescents’ Attitudes And Test Scores In Reading, Kirstin Sue Bailey

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Does the classroom environment have a positive effect on adolescents’ attitudes and test scores in reading? This research project was completed with sixteen students who participated in an Alternative Learning Program. Students were given one survey in October, prior to changes in the classroom, and another in January, after changes had been made. They were also given an electronic, standardized assessment at the beginning of the school year and another in January. Findings suggest the importance of allowing students to choose what they read, giving students at least 20 minutes to read during class, and creating comfortable seating during reading …

Adverbial Clauses In 4th Grade Science Textbooks: A Structural And Functional Analysis, Nicole Renee Tuchscherer

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research questions in this Capstone address the use of adverbial clauses in 4th grade science texts including their frequency, position within the sentence, and meanings. The researcher also did a comparison across texts to find differences and similarities in use between publishers. The research was conducted through a functional language analysis of four textbooks. Results indicate that although the use of adverbial clauses varies greatly from text to text, they do occur in 4th grade science texts and should be addressed by educators in order to help increase students’ scientific literacy.

The Impact Of Collaborative Professional Development Between Classroom Teachers And Reading Recovery Teachers, Tessa Abrahamson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone explores the impact that collaborative professional development between classroom teachers and reading recovery teacher can have on the quality of instruction and on student growth. A mixed-methods approach was used in this action research study including a literacy assessment that was administered to students before and after professional development, observations, and surveys. The data were examined and revealed that working collaboratively is beneficial for teachers and students. Professional development is a powerful tool to help improve instruction when used appropriately.

Motivating First Grade Struggling Readers Through Comprehension Strategy Instruction, Jessica Annmarie Nivala

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this capstone was, how does the explicit teaching of comprehension strategies to first grade struggling readers increase their motivation to read? It documents one teacher’s experience of implementing explicit comprehension strategy instruction during reading workshop through the use of the gradual release of responsibility model and examines its effect on motivation of struggling readers. The project integrates whole group and small group instruction and motivational practices for three first grade struggling readers. The author details the comprehension lessons that were taught, and documents observations of the participants’ engagement. She describes her successes and concludes that …

The Experience Of Reading: What Elementary Children Think Of Reading, Francesca Simpson

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

As students with disabilities prepare to move from high school to vocations or post-secondary schooling it is essential they be able to self-advocate for their needed services. During their public school years, school psychologists, counselors, and other school administrative personnel are responsible for ensuring they are provided with an “appropriate,” barrier-free education under federal law. But upon graduation from high school, that responsibility shifts entirely onto the individual. In order to self-advocate successfully a student with a disability must know about their cognitive strengths and weaknesses. In regards to learning the student must be able to describe them to others …

The Effect Technology Has On Student Comprehension And Motivation, Paul Richard Holland

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, why do students in a sixth grade classroom using an electronic device to read display different comprehension and motivational levels than students with printed texts? The motivating factor for this capstone was the increased use of electronic devices in the classroom. It documents the changes in students’ comprehension and motivation over a six week time period. Data was collected in a variety of ways such as surveys, student interviews, journals, and comprehension quizzes. Although there were limitations and areas to improve in future studies, results showed student choice plays a significant role …