Education Commons^™

Increasing Engagement And Effectiveness Of Independent Reading In The Kindergarten Classroom, Sarah Swanson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this study was: What are the most effective and engaging methods for independent reading in the kindergarten classroom? Additionally, this study addressed the subquestion of: What are the benefits and disadvantages of reading traditional books and books on a digital device for young readers? The literature topics that were researched and reviewed included history and current trends in independent reading, academic success, motivation and engagement, technology, and effective independent reading strategies. For this study, a mixed methods approach was used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data within the kindergarten classroom. At the beginning of …

Improving Early Literacy Outcomes Through Play, Kimberly Bice

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question asked in this capstone project is: how might incorporating playful learning into a literacy framework help improve early literacy outcomes? There is a growing body of evidence that playful learning, a mix of free and guided play, has a slew of benefits to school-aged children including: physical, emotional, social, and cognitive. The foundational research for this project explores the intersections of educational neuroscience, Culturally Responsive Practices, and foundational literacy skills and practices. In particular the scholarship of Eric Jensen, Drs. Gloria Ladson-Billings, Zaretta Hammond, and Hollis Scarbourough were foundational in the conception and development of this project. …

Understanding Effective Literacy Instruction For Primary Grade Teachers, Erika Hotchkiss

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research on the topic of literacy instruction, and the best practices for effective literacy instruction, has been around for decades, but not all educators are aware of this research. This capstone project was designed to provide support for educators as they strengthen their understanding of how skilled reading develops and the best instructional practices to use with beginning readers. As a part of this research, six self-paced professional development modules were designed to address the question: How can a deeper understanding of the science of reading support primary grade teachers to be more effective with literacy instruction for beginning readers? …

The Impact Of Systematic Phonemic Awareness And Phonics Instruction In A Spanish Immersion First-Grade Classroom, Elisabeth Boe

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Recent research suggests that structured literacy, the systematic teaching of phonological awareness, phonics, and word recognition skills, is highly indicative of students’ proficiency in reading. This is true not only in monolingual literacy programs but in bilingual programs as well. While many schools across the United States have implemented best practices, this is not the case for many Spanish immersion programs. This capstone seeks to address this problem with the question How does systematic literacy instruction of phonemic awareness and phonics in Spanish Immersion impact student mastery of early literacy skills in first grade? It analyzes the current research about …

What Does The Current Research Say About Effective Strategies For Teaching Reading Fluency?, Talia E. Dewitte

Honors Thesis

Reading fluency, a person’s ability to read with speed, accuracy, and prosody, is one of the five major dimensions of reading instruction. Effective reading fluency instruction is crucial to the success of developing readers. The ability to read fluently directly impacts the ability to engage in other reading skills, as instruction with reading fluency is often integrated with skills such as reading comprehension and phonics. There are a plethora of evidence-based strategies for teaching reading instruction. While these strategies vary the delivery of instruction or materials needed, they all share a foundation of thorough research and continued efficacy in the …

Implementing Authentic Literacy Centers In A Kindergarten Classroom, Isabella Haeger

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Cultivating a literacy-rich and engaging classroom community from the beginning of the kindergarten year is an important step to provide students with a positive experience with learning. Authentic literacy centers are a way for primary learners to interact with targeted literacy skills in a meaningful way. Teachers can plan intentional reading, writing, word work, and listening skills that are differentiated and hands-on. This capstone evaluates the question: What are the most impactful ways to establish authentic and engaging literacy work stations for kindergarten students that promote voice and choice? The summarizing website showcases authentic literacy tasks for each center and …

Community College Students’ Awareness Of Their Reading And Writing Proficiency, Martha Paulina Campusano Rojas

Dissertations

Student’s low reading and writing proficiency in higher education has been the subject of a large body of research (e.g., Bahr, 2011; Bailey, 2010; Carlino, 2005, 2010, 2012; Flink, 2017; Jaggars, 2014 Pacello, 2014; Perin, 2011; Perin et al., 2013).The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how students in a first-year developmental Spanish course at the Dominican community college think of the connection between their reading and writing abilities and their performance in both their current and future undergraduate courses. The study also explored how these students view the importance of the developmental course and how they understand …

The Impact Of Cognitive Coaching On High School English Teachers’ Implementation Of Metacognitve Reading Strategies, Charrai Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

The problem that this action research study addressed was the ineffective facilitation strategies used in professional development for teachers. The purpose of the study was to determine whether reflective practices impact teachers’ instructional decisions. The study used Cognitive Coaching, a reflective coaching model, as its intervention. To gather data the study used classroom observations, coaching conversations, and an eight-question structured survey administered at the end of the study. This qualitative case study included three high school English teachers as its participants and the study was conducted at two different high schools in a suburban school district in the Southeast. The …

Student Engagement Action Research A Focus On Culturally Relevant Instructional Methods, Amia Dixon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action study was to determine the impact the use of culturally relevant instructional methods (researcher created term) would have on student achievement and student motivation. The use of culturally relevant teaching methods is rooted in culturally relevant pedagogy first introduced by Gloria Ladson-Billings and culturally responsive teaching practices first introduced by Geneva Gay. The study implemented an intervention cycle that modified the fourth-grade curriculum by differentiating lessons based on learning style, incorporating an “activator” that connects to the students’ culture and builds background knowledge, allowing student choice for instructional text, increasing the use of culturally relevant …

Increasing Phonemic Awareness In Intellectually Impaired Students By Using Wilson’S Fundations Phonics Program In A Self-Contained Classroom, Theresa Lynne Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to investigate if students who have been identified intellectually disabled are able to gain phonemic awareness by using Wilson’s Fundations in a self-contained setting. Most research has focused on students who are not identified as intellectually disabled. In this mixed method action research study, the students were given a first grade reading fluency test and a first grade word reading test for six weeks as the quantitative data. Both instruments were tested using a two-tail t-test, week one’s results were compared to week six’s results on both tests. All five the participants showed growth over the six …

Teachers' And Coaches' Perspectives On The Challenges In Implementing A Literacy Coaching Program, Lucia West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem in a local school district in the Southwest region of the United States was the lack of improvement in reading achievement scores in Grades 3 through 5 despite the implementation of a literacy coaching program during the previous 3 years. This lack of improvement in reading achievement has an impact on students’ subsequent academic performance and outcomes. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of teachers and literacy coaches in the local setting regarding the challenges in implementing the literacy coaching program. The conceptual framework of the study was Vygotsky's third space theory. …

Teachers' And Coaches' Perspectives On The Challenges In Implementing A Literacy Coaching Program, Lucia West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem in a local school district in the Southwest region of the United States was the lack of improvement in reading achievement scores in Grades 3 through 5 despite the implementation of a literacy coaching program during the previous 3 years. This lack of improvement in reading achievement has an impact on students’ subsequent academic performance and outcomes. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of teachers and literacy coaches in the local setting regarding the challenges in implementing the literacy coaching program. The conceptual framework of the study was Vygotsky's third space theory. …

Kindergarten Through Second Grade Teachers’ Collaboration On Reading Instruction Through Virtual Communities Of Practice, Nakaydria Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Kindergarten through second grade (K–2) teachers have different experiences with support when teaching beginning reading. However, there is a problem with K–2 teachers having access to virtual collaboration to support beginning reading instruction. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences and perceptions of K–2 teachers collaborating virtually on Google Platforms to support beginning reading instruction within a community of practice (CoP). The research questions were used to understand the interaction and accountability of K–2 teachers collaborating within a CoP. The conceptual framework was constructed from elements of CoPs and the social theory of learning because of …

Exploring Teachers’ Use Of Instructional Technology During Reading For English Language Learners, Phyllis Ingram

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the southeastern United States, many local school districts have mandated an increased use of instructional technology to address low reading proficiency among English language learners (ELLs). However, local district leaders and stakeholders concurred that additional research was needed to explore how teachers were using technology in their instructional practices for the academic content proficiency of ELLs. The purpose of this qualitative multisite case study was to explore Grade 3–5 teachers’ perceptions of and experiences using instructional technology during reading instruction with ELLs; consequently, the research questions addressed these perceptions and experiences. The substitution, augmentation, redefinition, and modification (SAMR) model …

Kindergarten Through Second Grade Teachers’ Collaboration On Reading Instruction Through Virtual Communities Of Practice, Nakaydria Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Kindergarten through second grade (K–2) teachers have different experiences with support when teaching beginning reading. However, there is a problem with K–2 teachers having access to virtual collaboration to support beginning reading instruction. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences and perceptions of K–2 teachers collaborating virtually on Google Platforms to support beginning reading instruction within a community of practice (CoP). The research questions were used to understand the interaction and accountability of K–2 teachers collaborating within a CoP. The conceptual framework was constructed from elements of CoPs and the social theory of learning because of …

Fourth Grade Teacher Perspectives Of Instructional Practices To Support Students With Reading Deficits, Juanita Carter Robbins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was the focus of this study was that only 30% of fourth grade students in the United States read at or above grade-level proficiency. Lack of reading proficiency affects fourth-grade students’ ability to master content presented in subjects across the curriculum and may limit their educational attainment. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore fourth-grade teachers’ perspectives of instructional practices to support students with reading deficits, the challenges teachers encounter, and the resources teachers need to meet those challenges. The conceptual framework comprised Tomlinson’s model of differentiated instruction. Three research questions explored the instructional …

Upper Elementary School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Using Audiobooks For Reluctant Readers, Richard Michael Joseph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that prompted this study was that educators’ perceptions were unknown regarding the use of audiobooks in classroom settings to help reluctant readers develop independent reading habits at a suburban elementary school in Southeast Michigan. This lack of awareness represents a gap in practice that reflects a potential need for increased understanding about how the use of audiobooks in classroom settings may help reluctant readers develop independent reading habits. The purpose of this basic qualitative project study was to examine third through fifth grade educators’ perceptions on the use of audiobooks in classroom settings to help reluctant readers develop …

Upper Elementary School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Using Audiobooks For Reluctant Readers, Richard Michael Joseph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that prompted this study was that educators’ perceptions were unknown regarding the use of audiobooks in classroom settings to help reluctant readers develop independent reading habits at a suburban elementary school in Southeast Michigan. This lack of awareness represents a gap in practice that reflects a potential need for increased understanding about how the use of audiobooks in classroom settings may help reluctant readers develop independent reading habits. The purpose of this basic qualitative project study was to examine third through fifth grade educators’ perceptions on the use of audiobooks in classroom settings to help reluctant readers develop …

Fourth Grade Teacher Perspectives Of Instructional Practices To Support Students With Reading Deficits, Juanita Carter Robbins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was the focus of this study was that only 30% of fourth grade students in the United States read at or above grade-level proficiency. Lack of reading proficiency affects fourth-grade students’ ability to master content presented in subjects across the curriculum and may limit their educational attainment. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore fourth-grade teachers’ perspectives of instructional practices to support students with reading deficits, the challenges teachers encounter, and the resources teachers need to meet those challenges. The conceptual framework comprised Tomlinson’s model of differentiated instruction. Three research questions explored the instructional …

Instructional Practices That Promote Reading Growth In K-3 Students: A Qualitative Study Of Highly Effective Reading Teachers, Valora J. Unowsky

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The focus of this study was to examine the effective instructional practices, philosophies, values, and beliefs of highly effective reading teachers, as evidenced by their students’ rate of reading growth over the course of one academic year across all demographic subgroups. Teacher instructional strategies, approaches to tier one and tier two instruction, planning, preparation, and philosophical beliefs about teaching were investigated. The primary goal of this study was to identify and examine teacher practices and characteristics which result in high reading growth, so as to benefit students. This qualitative grounded theory study used targeted teacher interviews and extensive coding methodologies …

A Generic Qualitative Study Of District, School, And Teacher Leader Experiences With Increasing Reading And Writing Achievement, Jennifer Fowler

Theses and Dissertations

English Language Arts (ELA) test scores have declined since the 2020 COVID-19 virus caused schools and districts in the United States and around the world to shut down for substantial periods of time. School and district leaders and teachers across the country are working to increase ELA achievement.

In this generic qualitative research study, local district, school, and teacher leaders were interviewed and asked questions about their experiences with increasing reading and writing achievement using semi-structured interview protocols.

Four research questions were addressed. They concerned the challenges, successes, supports, guidance, mandates, and advice offered by district, school, and teacher leaders …

Novice Teacher Experiences Of Online Reading Instruction During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Deyanira M. Echevarria Candales

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation documented novice teacher experiences providing online reading instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the researcher captured educators’ first-hand accounts of their experiences shifting to fully online reading instruction, adapting instructional materials that were designed for in-person instruction for online learning, confronting challenges and successes during this period of uncertainty, and transitioning back to in-person instruction amidst the then ongoing pandemic.

The following research questions were posed: 1. How do novice elementary reading teachers, in a large public school district in South Florida, describe their experiences teaching reading online during a global pandemic? 2. How do novice elementary …

The Effect Of Choice In Reading: Motivation, Engagement, And Enjoyment, Jennifer Barberg

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of student choice in independent reading material. Specifically, the research focused on student motivation, engagement, and enjoyment of reading in classrooms where choice is offered versus those in which texts are assigned by the teacher. Data was collected through multiple student surveys and researcher observation of student behavior. The students in this classroom gave before and after information about their reading interest and self perceived growth. The results of this study were used to determine whether the freedom of choice in a student’s in class independent reading material fostered an …

Joy In Choice: Cultivating A Choice-Centric Literacy Classroom In Upper Elementary, Alexandra Pickell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project is: How do teachers initiate and nurture joyful, personally meaningful opportunities for reading in the classroom? This project is an introductory website detailing how and why teachers can shift their reading block to make it a time in the day when students are making choices for themselves. In so doing, student motivation and joy for reading is at the forefront of the classroom (Gambrell, 2015). The intended audience is any upper elementary teacher looking to decenter the teacher’s voice during independent reading, but is of particular importance for teachers who already have an …

Creating Effective Parent-Teacher Partnerships To Positively Impact Student Reading, Ashley A. Durack

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has proven that when families and educators work together the student benefits immensely and they are more prepared to reach greater academic success. Students today need more support than ever in many academic areas, especially literacy, that is why the creation of parent-teacher partnerships is crucial. When families and educators form strong parent-teacher partnerships they are able to communicate more openly and are able to effectively address the reading difficulties that students may encounter through a variety of different strategies. It’s important for educators to keep an open mind during the creation of these partnerships. It’s essential for teachers …

Text Based Discussions: An Approach To Teach Reading Comprehension, Georgeanne R. Green

Culminating Experience Projects

Research has revealed that students’ reading comprehension success is a direct reflection on teachers’ knowledge of the content and level of comfort with instruction. Teachers play an important role in facilitating and managing meaningful interactions with a text amongst students. This project explores factors that contribute to reading comprehension. The main factor acknowledged in this project is the varied levels of teacher knowledge and instructional practices in reading. Consistency in instructional practices within a school matters. With that, this project highlights the importance of implementation of a reading approach, text based discussion, that entails many opportunities for collaborative learning. This …

A Framework For Interdisciplinary Read Aloud Lessons, Lyndsey M. Bensel

Culminating Experience Projects

Science and social studies instruction at the elementary level has diminished in quantity and quality as a result of increasing pressure to maximize English language arts achievement. This approach exchanges short term gains in reading proficiency for long term deficits across many disciplines. Research establishes a strong connection between background knowledge gained through content area learning and the ability to comprehend expository texts. Moreover, deprioritizing science and social studies instruction limits opportunities to explore disciplinary literacy practices which serve as the foundation for acquiring knowledge in different disciplines. The framework for interdisciplinary read aloud lessons developed through this project, will …

An Examination Of Reading Interventions At The Upper Elementary Level, Bethany Vangessel

Culminating Experience Projects

Students of all ages face challenges in their reading and while some challenges begin early in learning to read, other challenges develop as students begin reading more complex texts. However, research into the most effective forms of intervention for students who struggle with reading have focused more on beginning readers in the lower elementary grades. As students enter the upper elementary grades, there are increased demands on foundational reading skills with multisyllabic words, comprehension, and the added pressure of standardized testing. Changing demands on reading skills result in a more diverse need to intervention as students may struggle with foundational …

Social Media, Anxiety, And Reading Achievement In Elementary Students, Mercedes Villarreal Hinojosa, Viviana Elizondo Marcos, Maria A. Julian Quintanilla

International Graduate Program for Educators Master's Projects

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between perceived social media usage, academic achievement in reading, and anxiety. This study looked at a second grade classroom in ASFM consisting of 21 bilingual Mexican students, 11 boys and 10 girls. Perceived social media usage was measured using a survey, academic reading achievement was measured using Fountas and Pinell reading levels and anxiety was measured using the Children’s Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS) by Wren and Benson (2004). Each variable was then analyzed on its own through the use of descriptive statistics and bar graphs; then, each dependent variable was …

Reading Toward Breath: A Poetic Ecology Of Creative Reading, Jessica Schad Manuel

All Dissertations

Reading is an act of perception that begins in wonder and leads to wisdom. It is not a response to writing but a response-ability we have to interact with the world around us and the phenomena before us. Reading with the body leads to wisdom, and when we participate in our existence by being in the world, we are reading. So what is reading? Reading is making. We make connections, and we form relationships. The act of reading is more than a cognitive process and even surpasses the phenomenological encounter.

My research describes the reader’s relationship to the text as …