<p> The purpose of this study was to design, pilot, and evaluate the effectiveness of a teacher-led intervention using karaoke to improve the reading skills. Elements from previous research (Biggs, Homan, Dedrick, Rasinksi &amp; Minick, 2008; Gupta, 2006) were adapted and integrated with the structure of Writer's Workshop (Calkins, 1991; Graves, 1983) to create an intervention referred to as Karaoke Workshop. The researcher, who also participated in the role of the after-school intervention teacher, adapted existing instructional and design methods and the efficacy of the adaptation of these methods in this context was part of the pilot nature of this study. </p><p> Two rounds of the design-based research cycle were followed to develop, implement, and evaluate a teacher-led intervention. The impact of the design on three key outcomes was observed leading to several key findings. The most significant finding validated the impact that karaoke has on oral reading fluency. Over an 8-week period, every participant experienced a significant improvement in oral reading fluency, with the average reading rate of participants increasing from 64 to 94 WCPM. </p><p> In addition, this study offers an instructional model for teachers who want to use karaoke in the classroom. The revised model includes separate instructional routines for teacher-led lessons and for student-driven activity. This model is based on teacher manipulation of three variables, the curriculum, the music, and the technology, which were also explored. </p><p> This study serves as an exemplar for the integration of music into the curriculum in a way that supports both the arts and student performance with core content. Given the current educational landscape, where arts instruction is often shadowed by an emphasis on the core curriculum and high-stakes testing, it is important for educators to identify ways to integrate the arts that contribute to these high-stakes outcomes.</p>

<p> With increased dependence on computer-based standardized tests to assess academic achievement, technological literacy has become an essential skill. Yet, because students have unequal access to technology, they may not have equal opportunities to perform well on these computer-based tests. </p><p> The researcher had observed students taking the STAR Reading test (Renaissance Learning, 2009) and noticed a variance in scores in relation to classroom performance. The researcher intended, therefore, to explore variables that may affect the performance of students on a computer-based reading assessment. The researcher tested two different technology-related variables as students took a summative exam, the STAR Reading test. The purpose of this study was to explore how changes in visual stimuli affected the process of reading and student reading behavior. This quantitative study sought to ascertain whether changing the computer read-out to a black screen with white lettering made a difference in student engagement and comprehension among students in grades two through six during a computer-based adaptive test. </p><p> The research site was one K-6 elementary school in a large suburban school district. The participants of the study were 316 children in grades two through six. One hundred and sixteen students were randomly sampled for student engagement data analysis. The researcher conducted a stratified random process to further select data for analysis. Students were exposed to both color display background variables throughout the study process. Teacher observers collected tallies on student engagement behaviors during the test-taking process. </p><p> The researcher calculated the mean level of student engagement on each of five observed behaviors. The researcher also collected reading comprehension data for five subsequent benchmark sessions throughout the year. The engagement results of this study failed to support the hypothesis, which stated that elementary student behaviors during testing would verify a measureable difference in engagement when either a black or white display screen was presented. The results of the reading comprehension test also failed to support the hypothesis, which stated that there would be a measureable difference in elementary students' scores while taking computer-based tests when the computer screen was set to either black or white background.</p>

<p> Schools today continue to intensify the need to find effective interventions for students who are at risk for reading failure. Many have turned to a multi-tiered Response to Intervention (Rtl) model to provide reading interventions that will assist educators in improving reading outcomes. This one-group pretest-posttest design study examined the relationship between participation in Rtl reading intervention and reading outcomes among 117 students grouped in a Tier 2 reading intervention. Using Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) Next reading assessment composite scores, I analyzed reading change for three benchmark time periods for the 2012-2013 school year. Results from descriptive statistics, <i>t</i>-test measures, and a multiple regression analysis produced positive results. The majority of students (95%) participating in a Tier 2 reading intervention demonstrated statistically significant growth in reading outcomes with a reading change mean of 95.93 points regardless of their gender, English learner status, or free and reduced-price lunch status. Improvement in reading outcomes occurred in all three designated time periods measured. This quantitative study indicates that the majority of students who participated in Rtl reading interventions improved reading outcomes from the beginning of the year to the end of the year and made gains in closing the achievement gap for reading.</p>

<p> Students today are spending a significant amount of time engaged in media activity, yet even with an increase of e-reader compatible smart devices, reading has not increased in popularity among elementary school age children. It is critical that students spend time engaged in meaningful reading activities to become proficient readers. Thus, as educators of these 21^st century learners, we must find a way to increase reader motivation and bridge the gap between home leisure activities and school activities. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of reading enhanced e-books on the iPad vs. traditional storybooks with regard to motivation to read, reading comprehension and fluency. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used, over a period of four weeks with 22 first grade student participants. The results of this study suggested that e-books are more appealing than traditional print books and as equally appealing, if not more appealing to students than educational apps. By the end of the study, all students were fluently reading books at least one guided reading level higher. The results from this study showed that students benefited from the combination of e-books and traditional storybooks, with this method resulting in increased fluency and comprehension among readers.</p>

<p>The study used an embedded qualitative, historical, explanatory, case study design with a dominant quantitative, quasi-experimental pre-post, longitudinal, retrospective design. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of Ludus Reading&mdash;a new reading program&mdash;in terms of kindergarten students&rsquo; reading perceptions and performance between the control and experimental group addressing the problem of illiteracy and aliteracy. Study participants included 73 kindergarten students. The results of the study were statistically significant (alpha = .05). The null hypothesis H1 was rejected (<i>F</i> (1,70)=15.01, <i>p</i> &lt;. 001). Consequently, the experimental group had higher means on KDRA2 (<i>M</i>=9.25, <i> SD</i>=5.11) than the control group (<i>M</i>=5.07, <i> SD</i>=4.25). The null hypothesis H2 was rejected (<i>F</i> (1,69)=6268.69, Wilks Lambda=0.68, <i>p</i> &lt; .001). Therefore, the experimental group had higher means on KDIBELS NWF-CLS (<i>M</i>=53.31, <i> SD</i>=21.51) than the control group (<i>M</i>=32.20, <i> SD</i>=18.99). The sub-null hypotheses were retained, signifying that moderating factors, gender and speech language services, did not influence the students&rsquo; reading performance. Qualitative data from learning profiles were explored, and emerging themes indicated that the experimental group enjoyed reading more than the control group because students from the experimental group used more descriptive emotion words to describe reading, and expressed a higher intensity level of enjoyment. </p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-07, Section: A, page: 2880. Adviser: Arlette Willis. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 229-241) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

<p> Reading has been found to not only build student motivation but to increase community involvement in education (Hudson &amp; Williams, 2015). Children who grow into lifelong readers were less likely to be incarcerated, became more successful members of society, and created greater futures for themselves and their families (Obama, 2013). With exposure to early childhood education opportunities, children found a greater propensity to attain foundational reading skills; therefore, positive habits for education lead to thriving outcomes in the future (DeHaan &amp; Leuven, 2016). This study analyzed variations in preschool programs in order to detect curricular, facility, and instructor distinctions (DeHaan &amp; Leuven, 2016). Educators, parents, and community members were predominantly favorable of financing and supporting early childhood education (DeHaan &amp; Leuven, 2016). Globally, early childhood education is continually trying to maintain a more prevalent stature in society (DeHaan &amp; Leuven, 2016). Early childhood education can seemingly take an indirect step backwards in school districts due to to other educational necessities (DeHaan &amp; Leuven, 2016). In this study, the researcher analyzed early childhood education opportunities and the impact on students&rsquo; reading comprehension in third grade.</p><p>

<p>Research has shown that there is a strong link between reading comprehension and vocabulary, yet many children lack the required vocabulary needed to perform adequately on reading comprehension assessments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the teaching of Larry Bell&rsquo;s 12 Powerful Words vocabulary program in order to raise third, fourth and fifth grade test scores on the North Carolina Reading Comprehension End-of-Grade Assessments. This study surveyed third, fourth and fifth grade teachers concerning their beliefs of the efficacy of this vocabulary program, surveyed third, fourth and fifth grade students to determine their knowledge of these 12 words, and tallied the occurrence of these 12 words on formative and summative assessments administered within the district. A regression analysis was performed to determine if there was a relationship between teachers&rsquo; perceptions and student performance on the North Carolina Reading Comprehension End-of-Grade Assessments. Results of the regression analysis showed no significant relationship between teachers&rsquo; beliefs of the value of teaching these 12 words and students&rsquo; mean scores across 12 years of third, fourth and fifth grade North Carolina Reading Comprehension End-of-Grade Assessments in the district of study. Results of the word searches indicate that only five of these 12 words occurred frequently enough to impact reading assessments. An implication of this study is that teaching and learning a short list of vocabulary words may not result in higher scores on reading comprehension assessments. </p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-05, Section: A, page: 1643. Adviser: Georgia E. Garcia. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 359-370) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

<p> This dissertation examines the reciprocal relationship between text literacy and music literacy through an experimental design. Music teachers and English Language Arts (ELA) teachers often address similar components of literacy, including fluency, comprehension, and symbolic interpretation. The theory of cognitive structuralism maintains that through derivative and correlative subsumption, material that is learned in one context is strengthened when applied in a disparate context. Therefore, ELA and music teachers who work in isolation are missing an opportunity to teach parallel literacy concepts for the common advantage of teachers and students. This study seeks to explain how students enrolled in conventional and literacy-enriched band environments perform better than non-band students on text literacy tests. It also asks if conventional band students differ from literacy-enriched band students on text and musical literacy tests. </p><p> Fourth-grade students were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group (<i>n</i> = 11), a conventionally taught beginning band group (<i>n</i> = 11), and a literacy-enriched beginning band group (<i>n</i> = 10). The experimental treatment included 14 small group band lessons and 14 full band rehearsals. Groups were then compared for textual literacy growth using the NWEA Measures of Academic Performance (MAP) and musical growth using the Watkins Farnum Performance Scale (WFPS). ANCOVA planned contrasts showed that literacy-enriched students significantly outperformed conventional band students and control students on the MAP literature reading subtest. The research design allowed for the defense of literacy-enriched band instruction as a generalizable cause of higher literacy scores. </p><p> Additional comparisons between the control group and the two experimental groups revealed no statistically significant differences between the group means on the overall reading scores or the remaining reading subtest scores. The lack of significance suggested that the statistical model was a poor fit for the data. Furthermore, a small sample size and large unexplained variance contributed to a lack of statistical power. Therefore, the application of the cognitive structuralist theory on the remaining MAP reading tests remained inconclusive. </p><p> The conventional and literacy-enriched band groups were also compared against each other on text and music literacy growth. There were no statistically significant differences between the conventional group and literacy-enriched group on the MAP or on the WFPS. This suggested that literacy-enriched instruction in band could benefit a student&rsquo;s textual literacy skills without compromising musical performance goals. It also suggested that more study is needed to determine the extent to which the explicit instruction of ELA reading skills in band may benefit musical ability. </p><p> The overall findings implied that literacy-enriched band instruction caused higher textual literacy scores, and the results may be generalized to similar circumstances. Suggestions for practice included increased collaboration among teachers, enhanced teacher pre-service and in-service opportunities, additional use of student-centered progressive instructional strategies, and the careful reconsideration of eliminating or reducing the availability of band to students. Future research would benefit from the quantitative and qualitative models proposed herein.</p><p>