The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the effects, if any, of a supplemental phonics curriculum, Saxon Phonics, on the reading achievement of first-grade students in one mountain-west, semirural, school district. The design was casual-comparative and ex post facto, and answered the questions: (1) Do students taught using a traditional basal program and students taught using both the traditional basal program and a supplemental phonics program (control vs. treatment) differ on selected end-of-year reading achievement scores (i.e., portions of the DIBELS Next assessment—nonsense word fluency [NWF], oral reading fluency [ORF], and accuracy [ACC])? (2) do any possible interactions among selected variables (i.e., instructional program, gender, and beginning-of-year reading level) exist related to performance differences on end-of-year reading achievement scores among students receiving reading instruction with or without a supplemental phonics program? The independent variables were the instructional program Saxon Phonics, a traditional/basal reading curriculum and the reading levels of low, medium, and high. The dependent variables were oral reading fluency, accuracy and nonsense word fluency, measured by the DIBELS Next assessment. The 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 DIBELS Next data were collected from the school district database upon approval from the Institutional Review Board in January of 2017. A mixed effects model was utilized to explore the relationship between use of the selected supplemental phonics curriculum and selected reading achievement scores of first-grade students. Results revealed that there was no significant difference between the control and treatment groups, though there was a statistically significant improvement of low readers in the treatment group over the control group.

This study evaluated how measures of oral reading fluency (ORF) and silent reading fluency (SRF) compare as predictors of reading comprehension and how these predictors vary as a function of proficiency level for fourth- and fifth-grade students. Additionally, the study sought to examine the relationship between measures of oral reading fluency, silent reading fluency, reading comprehension, and the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP) with these students. Participants were 175 fourth- and fifth-grade students from two randomly selected schools in Colorado. A correlational predictive design was used. Results indicated that measures of ORF and SRF were predictors of reading comprehension and that the relationship of measures of ORF and SRF with comprehension changes over time. Regression analysis results indicated that 45.0% of the variance in reading comprehension was accounted for by the ORF measure for the sample population, as compared to 53.0% of the variance accounted for by SRF measures. Thus, measures of SRF might be a better predictor for maturing readers to determine reading proficiency, monitor student progress, and guide instructional practices. A structural equation model (SEM) analyzed the relationship of the measure of SRF with reading comprehension as moderated by proficiency level. Analysis for the SRF measure by reading proficiency was conducted at the whole group level. The model accounted for 59.0% of the moderation. Results indicated that reading proficiency level and the SRF measure were both associated with reading comprehension. Reading proficiency level is a significant moderator of the relationship between measures of reading comprehension and SRF. A SEM mediation model was used to analyze the relationship of measures of ORF, SRF, reading comprehension, and TCAP. The direct effects of the ORF and SRF measures on TCAP were both predictive with 66.0% of the variance accounted for with SRF measure and 66.5% of the variance accounted for with ORF measure. Results indicated that as grade level increases, the relationship between measures of ORF, SRF, and reading comprehension changes. Additionally, SRF measures can be a viable alternative to ORF measures for upper elementary students as a predictor of reading comprehension and on the TCAP high-stake assessment.

Recently, there have appeared in the literature treatment approaches for the disorder of developmental apraxia of speech in children. These treatment approaches make use of the visual modality, and specifically use reading stimulus materials to improve articulation skills. Several authors have endorsed this use of reading materials in the treatment of developmental apraxia of speech in children including: Morley (1965); Rosenthal (1971); Rosenbek and Wertz (1972); and Rosenbek et al. (1974). These treatment approaches have been offered via the literature without the benefit of empirical verification that children with DAS will make fewer articulation errors while reading aloud than they would speaking spontaneously. The primary purpose of this investigation was to provide empirical support for the treatment approaches to DAS in children which make use of reading stimuli to improve the articulation performance of these children. A secondary purpose was to present a possible treatment approach through the increasing of oral reading speed in children with DAS.

This study investigates the impact that reading aloud has on receptive vocabulary for youngerlearners. It takes the current environment of English language learning within Swedish schoolsinto account and explores several language acquisition theories that are deemed instrumental indeveloping a foundation for receptive vocabulary, as well as contrasting and comparing with howthe method of reading aloud has an impact on language learning. The study will also investigatehow this method differs among first- and second- or foreign-language learners. Through thesynthesis of multiple research articles that have been made on the subject, we discover that thepositive effects of a read aloud experience translate to a greater understanding of receptivevocabulary, and that there are ultimately only positives to draw from the experience. However,conflicting sources regarding second-language or foreign-language learners’ performances pointsto the importance of ensuring the material and exercises be carefully selected and structured inorder to foster an equal ground for everyone’s developmental trajectory.

Previous research provides support for the use of Readers Theater as a way to teach literacy and improve reading comprehension. Readers Theater involves listening to a story, engaging in repeated readings of the story, and performing the story using vocal intonation, reading rate, facial expressions, and body movements to accurately portray the meaning of each line. An empirical demonstration of the effect of Readers Theater on reader self-efficacy has yet to occur. Further, previous research rarely evaluated the magnitude of improvements associated with Readers Theater with the magnitude of improvements associated with maturation and traditional classroom instruction. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a Readers Theater intervention on improving reading comprehension and reader self-efficacy in elementary students, beyond that related to maturation or traditional classroom instruction. It was expected that participants receiving the Readers Theater intervention would exhibit greater improvements in reading comprehension and reader self-efficacy when compared to a control group. It was also anticipated that when the second group received the intervention, the findings would be replicated. Participants were 24 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. Results support the use of Readers Theater as a supplemental technique for reading instruction. Participants displayed some improvements in reading comprehension and various aspects of reader self-efficacy. Further research is needed to extend the findings to a larger population and refine techniques to maximize benefits.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the need of scientific speech training in the elementary grades of the Independent School Districts of Denton County. The analysis of data reveals a dire need for speech correction and other phases of speech training.

Dyad reading, a modified version of the Neurological Impress Method, does not seem to be widely used, although it appears to have the potential to support students at multiple levels of reading proficiency. Dyad reading was implemented in this study with two second-grade English Learners (ELs) paired with English-proficient partners using both fiction and nonfiction texts. This qualitative study employed an action research method, using the following data sources: video observations, student interviews, weekly dyad observations, anecdotal notes, and weekly written reflections.This study reveals that implementing dyad reading is complex. Participants needed modeling and practice with dyad reading procedures, but they learned them over time. The nature of the relationship between partners dramatically affected their dyad reading experience. Each partner had unique strengths and weaknesses that either helped or hindered the collaborative process. The participants, who had limited exposure to nonfiction texts prior to the study, indicated a clear understanding of and appreciation for both fiction and nonfiction. Of these two major genres, nonfiction provided more opportunities for partners to interact and have discussions during dyad reading. ELs appeared to grow in confidence as readers and experienced a sense of satisfaction and success. Adaptations made during the study that improved dyad reading for participants included having daily class discussions, using book logs to increase student accountability, refreshing the classroom library often, and encouraging more discussion between partners about texts.Dyad reading can be used successfully with second-grade ELs who are assisted readers. Participants recognized the value of having competent lead readers who could help them with their reading and with whom they could share the reading experience. Action research methodology provided opportunities to make changes as needed throughout the study. Some adaptations for future practice emerged. Foremost among these recommended adaptations is the inclusion of two additional dyad reading procedures: preview and plan, and stop and share.

Läsningen är en viktig färdighet för att kunna fungera och ta del av samhället. Läsningen lärs ut i en tidig ålder men det är dock inte alla som har positiva upplevelser av läsningen. Många elever möter stora svårigheter och utmaningar i sin läsning, vilket kan bidra till en förminskad tilltro till läsandet. En förminskad tilltro kan bidra till en negativ spiral av elevens läsupplevelse och den riskerar att eleven inte vill läsa eller ta del av textvärlden. Goda läskunskaper är en viktig grund för att eleven ska kunna fungera i samhället. Ett arbetssätt som möter och arbetar med elevers läsning är läshund och pedagogisk tjänstehund. Läshund är en hund som är specialutbildad och används som pedagogisk resurs i arbetet med elevers läsning. Elever läser för läshunden medan hunden sitter bredvid och lyssnar. Även pedagogisk tjänstehund kan användas i arbetet med elevers läsning, dock med större fokus på elevers kognitiva förmågor (Skolan för Pedagogiska Tjänstehundar).Syftet med studien är att få kunskap om hur elevers läsning med läshund kan påverka deras upplevelse av läsning. Tidigare forskning visar att läshund har positiv påverkan på elevers läsning gällande självförtroende, självkänsla och motivation. Forskningen lyfter också fram betydelsen av relationen mellan hund och läsare. Det teoretiska perspektivet som forskningen utgår ifrån är det sociokulturella perspektivet, med fokus på att vi lär oss när vi kommunicerar och samspelar med varandra. Metoden som valdes var intervjuer med elever där ljudinspelning användes i syfte att säkerhetsställa empirin. En observation genomfördes också som ett komplement till intervjuerna. Informationen från intervjuer och tidigare forskning visar att arbete med hundar, som en pedagogisk resurs för elever, bidrar till ett positivt förhållningssätt till läsning. Resultatet visar även att motivationen för att läsa fler texter ökar i samverkan med läshund.

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