The aims of this thesis were to examine the utilisation of various linguistic levels in the oral reading of running texts among Swedish beginning readers, and specifically to question the supposedly predominant role of lower (i.e. sub-lexical) linguistic levels by also examining possible evidence of the utilisation of information at the syntactic or semantic levels, as well as textual context. The investigation is based on a corpus constructed from the oral reading of running texts and includes a number of studies using both quantitative and qualitative error analyses. The analyses confirm that other linguistic levels than the sub-lexical have an impact on reading. This was shown both in the linguistic acceptability of errors and the extent to which errors were corrected depending on linguistic acceptability. Although the natural point of departure seemed to be the graphemic level, analyses revealed that graphemic complexity or word transparency alone could not explain error frequencies. In quite a few cases, qualitative analyses revealed, for instance, that higher linguistic levels or knowledge of the world could explain both why words did and did not result in reading errors. However, phonological quantity appeared to be a major difficulty throughout the study, which is clearly related to the graphemic or phonological level. Some differences regarding the developmental perspective were observed. One study indicated that the readers might develop stepwise regarding their utilisation of various linguistic levels, in the sense that they appeared to rely mainly on lower linguistic levels early in reading development. Later they seemed to be dependent on higher linguistic levels, and ultimately they seemed to be sensitive to, rather than dependent on, higher linguistic levels. An interesting result was that the readers seemed to use different strategies for different kinds of words throughout the investigation, using a direct decoding strategy for frequent words, but using a letter-by-letter decoding strategy for less frequent or graphemically complex words.

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Psychology, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

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Read-aloud editing aims to engage both the reader and the writer to negotiate meaning and negotiate form with the aim to self- and peer-repair. This study was divided into a three-fold focus: (1) examining feedback types, (2) examining categories of repair and (3) examining patterns of dyadic interaction (Storch, 2002). Two read-aloud editing sessions of 15 intermediate-level adult English as a second language learners (ESL) were audio-recorded and transcribed for quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results reveal that reformulations as a feedback type led to more learner repairs, whereas prompts led to more "metatalk" (Swain, 1998). Peer readers initiated and repaired more than writers and errors pertaining to incorrect grammar form tended to be repaired over other types of errors. Social relationships between the peers changed depending on how learners assumed their roles in the pairs. The findings suggest that read-aloud editing helps learners notice incongruities in their writing and find solutions by talking about writing (Nystrand, 1986).

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of reading aloud nonfiction science trade books on the attitudes toward science and the book selection habits of students in the elementary classroom. Gender differences among attitude and book selection were also explored.The school district chosen as the site for the research was located in a small Midwestern town with a population of about 32,000. The community consisted of people with diverse socioeconomic status and cultural backgrounds. Four teachers and 73 third grade students participated in the study. Complete data was available for 60 students.The four classrooms were randomly divided into two groups, those listening to science nonfiction trade books for twenty minutes each day for six weeks and those listening to nonscience books for twenty minutes each day for six weeks. An attitudinal survey was administered at the beginning and the end of the study. The percentage of science books versus other types of books was monitored for the six week period.The analysis of data revealed that students who were read the science nonfiction books chose a greater percentage of science books when checking out books from the library than did the students who were read nonscience books. There was no difference in the percentage of books selected by girls compared with those selected by boys. Results also showed a very slight increase in positive attitude toward science as a result of listening to science books during read-aloud sessions. There was no significant difference in the attitudes of the girls compared to the boys who were read science books. / Department of Elementary Education

The focus of this study was to assess the ability to predict performance on the Indiana Statewide Test for Educational Progress (ISTEP) from oral reading fluency scores on the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) Oral Reading Fluency Test (ORF). The scores of both assessments from 306 Indiana students from four different elementary schools were examined. Results of these students’ end of year (EOY) ORF scores were compared to their ISTEP scores in third grade in 2008-2009. During that school year ISTEP was administered twice, once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Results from both tests were analyzed using linear, multiple, and logistic regression models. The results showed r values between the ORF scores and the English/Language Arts portion of ISTEP to be .76 (Fall) and .72 (Spring). The correlations between ORF and ISTEP Math were .54 (Fall) and .61 (Spring). Regression coefficients ranged from 1.30 – 1.13 indicating a positive linear relationship between the results of the two assessments. The scores from demographic subgroups were also examined and some differences in the strength of the relationships were found among the groups. The oral reading fluency test was a better predictor for students generally considered at-risk (non-white, disabled, and non-English speaking). Logistic regression results showed a moderate to strong ability to predict whether or not students would pass ISTEP based on DIBELS scores. After using Beta values to calculate probabilities, it was found a DIBELS ORF score of 100 would provide a strong probability a student would pass ISTEP, both in English/Language Arts and Math. The results imply the need to monitor students’ oral reading and provide timely interventions when they struggle, and to focus more on helping children learn to read and less on preparing for ISTEP. / Department of Educational Leadership

The study examined preschool students’ use of thinking strategies when responding to deep structure questions during interactive book readings. The children were enrolled in two different inclusive preschool classrooms in a large Midwestern city. The study explored which thinking strategies the preschool children used when answering deep structure questions. Also under investigation was the potential difference in usage of thinking strategies between general education and special education students. Data collected included observations and frequency tallies. Information gathered was analyzed using independent sample T-Tests. The classrooms were combined to generate a larger population. Analysis showed the preschool students in the two inclusive preschool classrooms used all seven thinking strategies during interactive book read alouds. Frequency counts revealed a higher mean usage of schema, making inferences, and determining importance. Further, these strategies were as likely to be used by a general education student as a special education student. Based on the results of the study, teachers should guide and instruct their students about stories within discussions. Teachers should also select engaging texts guided by student interest, student background, or classroom project. This will allow them to build on information that students have and also create learning opportunities in the classroom that affects the classroom community. / Department of Elementary Education

Det här examensarbetet undersöker hur fem lärare arbetar med högläsning i grundskolans årskurs fyra till sex. Studien är kvalitativ och syftet har varit att utifrån ett didaktiskt perspektiv ta reda på hur lärare arbetar med högläsning i skolan. Urvalet för studien har förutom lärare på mellanstadiet varit skolor som har ett fokusbibliotek detta för att undersöka om dessa har haft inflytande på arbetet med högläsning. Underlag för studien har skapats genom intervjuer med verksamma lärare. Resultaten visar att samtliga lärare arbetar med högläsning främst på två sätt, dels när läraren läser högt och dels när eleverna läser högt. Förutom att bara högläsa använder lärarna olika metoder på ett varierat sätt. Reciprok undervisning och Chambers boksamtal är de två metoderna som är mest framträdande. Dessa metoder är introducerade för lärare och elever av  fokusbibliotekarierna. Studiens resultat visar att lärarnas syften med högläsning är att ge eleverna läsupplevelser, större ordförråd, läsförståelse, använda lässtrategier, läsintresse, omvärldskunskap, kunskap om människors olika livsvillkor samt att uppmärksamma eleverna på att det finns en riklig tillgång av litteratur. Studien visar att lärarna bedömer att högläsning kan vara en effektiv och gynnsam undervisningsform om den används på ett strukturerat sätt med hjälp av särskilda metoder. Lärarna anser att det är positivt att ha ett fokusbibliotek med en utbildad bibliotekarie. Det är en fördel att ha en utbildad och kompetent bibliotekarie på plats i skolan därför att denne besitter kompetensersom lärarna inte har. Dit kan eleverna söka sig för att få hjälp att hitta en passande bok och söka fakta.

Thesis (M.S.)--Missouri State University, 2008. / "May 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 31-33). Also available online.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Bowling Green State University, 2008. / Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 98 p. Includes bibliographical references.