Recent research suggests that summer reading programs may benefit elementary-aged children with learning disabilities and reading difficulties. However, there exists limited literature on how both play-based learning (PBL) and scaffolding can be used to improve reading outcomes in non-school settings. The purpose of this qualitative research was to examine PBL, scaffolding, and perceived reading outcomes in a 6-week play-based summer reading program. The conceptual framework guiding this research is that PBL, when combined with scaffolding, results in either the maintenance or the improvement of reading outcomes. Fourteen individuals (5 support workers, 4 parents, 5 children) who were enrolled in a play-based summer reading program between 2019 and 2021 participated in semi-structured interviews. The findings suggest that PBL and scaffolding can lead to perceived reading progress and increases in confidence and motivation, as well as an absence of a summer learning slide. Additional themes relating to the role of the support workers, program organization and friendship/belonging emerged. Implications for the literacy learning of elementary-aged children with disabilities and reading difficulties are discussed.

xiii, 189 p. A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call numbers: KNIGHT LB1573 .G238 2007 / This study uses cost-effectiveness tools to support school site decision-makers. It looks at four reading protocols for first and second graders using common outcomes of early reading proficiency. Similar outcome measures are a requirement of cost-effectiveness analysis but are a common shortcoming of program evaluations as presented in the literature. The comparison of Success For All, a Reading First protocol, and two locally designed instructional protocols gives the reader an opportunity to review the reading alternatives. The review is undertaken to highlight program costs ranging from difficult to discern indirect costs to readily accessible budget expenditures. The qualities of good reading programs are characterized and the essential elements of cost-effectiveness tools delineated before applying their theoretical principles to four schools in a large Northwest city. / Adviser: Gerald Tindal

This study describes the development and evaluation of a parent training model to test if a correlation exists between effective tutoring and locus of control. The model utilized parents of boys previously referred to the Educational Clinic for reading difficulties. The parents became the major treatment resource for remediating reading problems of their 8 to 11 year old boys. The venue was a local public library where a series of five lessons and three follow-up sessions were held with both parents and their sons present over a six month period. Reading strategies to develop the utilization of contextual clues were introduced and practiced at these sessions. Control group children from a variety of schools in Canberra were selected to match the 21 treatment children by the criteria of chronological age and pre-test results on an objective word recognition test. The parents were pre- and post-tested using the Rotter I-E Scale while all boys were given the IAR Scale, the Neale Analysis of Reading, ACER Word Recognition, a Goodman-Eurke Miscue passage and the Survey of General Reading Attitude. Analysis of results indicated that sample size limited the number of significant results obtained. No significant results between I-E ratings and dependent variables were found. The tutor's and spouse's initial I-E perceptions were correlated at p=.08. Correlations between tutor final I and subject final I ratings were nonsignificant but positively correlated. The initial and final I-E ratings of tutors were correlated at the p<.0l level. A negative correlation significant at p=.0l or better was noted between tutor behaviours and reading speed gains. This was also true of correlations between speed and both accuracy and comprehension (at p<.02 or greater). A trend to greater gains on all reading measures (at p=>.2 or higher) favouring the treatment group (when compared with the control group) suggests that a tutor programme based on improving reading comprehension may be of value to the clinic-referred retarded reader. A more comprehensive study bypassing the problems of sample size and differing causes for reading retardation is outlined using the n=l paradigm. Both locus of control and motivational factors of tutors and learners will be investigated.

The purpose of this study was to develop a case study to understand the processes and outcomes of reading intervention as conducted in the specific context of a large school district in north Texas. In particular, the study examined how students were identified as needing reading intervention and their subsequent success on measures of reading achievement over a period of three years in comparison with students who were not identified for reading intervention. This study employed a sequential mixed methods design in which the collection and analysis of quantitative data preceded qualitative data collection and analysis. Interview data were collected to illuminate the processes and challenges of conducting reading intervention in the classroom setting. The findings determined that the district is successful in its aims related to reading achievement on standardized measures of reading in grades three, four, and five despite a lack of evidence that success could be contributed solely to the provision of reading intervention. Three findings emerged: 1) students were served with a combination of services determined by each campus in the study, 2) teachers' provision of reading instruction did not align with district recommendations, and 3) students identified for reading intervention and served with either of the intervention programs were successful on measures of reading achievement but did not attain similar levels of achievement as non-identified peers. / text

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The purpose of this study was to describe the nature of reading instruction in a program using children's trade books instead of basal readers, and to identify patterns resulting in hypotheses regarding the nature of instruction. The study informs practitioners by providing descriptions of actual instruction, enabling readers to envision how reading instruction is accomplished using children's trade books, and it informs the research community by developing grounded theory concerning the nature of instruction in one literature-based reading program. The study can help bridge the polarization between traditionalists and whole language advocates through the descriptions of how traditionally accepted academic domains of reading instruction were accomplished. Also, it provides a model of a successful way to structure instructional time so that students spend more time actually reading, and it documents the social dimensions of instruction as important domain of reading instruction.

Core reading programs (CRPs) provide the curriculum and guide reading instruction for many classroom teachers. The purpose of this study was to conduct a content analysis of reading fluency instruction in current (2008-2011 copyright) grade 2 and 3 top-selling core reading program lessons to answer the following two research questions: (1) How do core reading programs recommend that fluency skills be taught? (2) How do reading fluency instructional practices in core programs compare to evidence-based reading fluency instructional practices defined in current research? The results of the analysis revealed that fluency instruction is more prevalent in current core reading programs than reported in previous content analyses and that the recommendations for fluency instruction are somewhat aligned with the findings of the National Reading Panel (NRP). All lessons coded focused on one of four characteristics of a fluent reader (i.e., rate, accuracy, expression, and/or comprehension). However, more lessons focused on expression than the other three categories. Second, current CRPs incorporated guided oral reading procedures; almost half of lessons included some type of explanation, modeling, and/or guided practice from a teacher or peer; however, reading with a partner was more prevalent than reading with the teacher (choral and echo reading). Also, more than half of the lessons included the use of repeated reading procedures; however, several CRPs suggested that students read the text more than the recommended three to four times. Last, the near absence of lessons that suggest the practice of independent silent reading also reflect the NRP’s findings that neither recommended nor endorsed its use in the classroom. More recent research reports no significant effect differences of guided wide reading (one time reading of text) and scaffolded silent reading of texts over guided oral repeated reading of texts. The five current CRPs did not recommend the use of either of these two practices.

Students who display reading difficulties/disabilities at the end of third grade are less likely to succeed in content areas and graduate from high school than their reading-proficient peers. Literature suggests that students in rural school districts lag behind their suburban peers in terms of their reading levels and accessibility to resources. Furthermore, students from low socioeconomic status (SES) households and those who have disabilities exhibit greater learning loss during the summer break. This exploratory study examined the effects of two parent-implemented computer-based reading programs on the reading skills of 20 students at-risk for reading failure during a summer break. Parental and students’ perceptions regarding the effectiveness and desirability of the programs were elicited. Results suggested that both programs facilitated gains in phonemic awareness and phonics. Furthermore, students in the Funnix group exhibited large gains in vocabulary and oral reading fluency, and the students in the PLATO group exhibited large gains in comprehension. Most of the students indicated they liked the programs and the programs helped them read. Similarly, most of the parents agreed that the programs were useful, and they were comfortable using the programs. A description of the computer programs, results, implications, and limitations of the study are discussed.

Teachers and students spend countless hours in the classroom focused on the task of learning how to read. However, successful readers do not simply know how to read, they practice reading regularly. With limited time in the classroom, it is essential that students extend their reading practice outside of school. In regards to students' reading, two things are certain. First, students must become effective independent readers in order to experience success in school. Second, students must practice reading regularly in order to become successful independent readers. These two ideas arc correlational; in order to become effective independent readers, students must first practice reading. The necessity for successful independent reading is clear, as academic achievement relies on the premise that students are able to read and comprehend independently. However, the means by which to achieve this end have been surprisingly under researched. This study examines at-home reading programs being utilized in elementary schools in six Central Florida school districts. We cannot change or begin to improve what we don't know. This study was designed to examine the current practices related to at-home reading programs. My hope is that this study will provide valuable insight into the successful elements and challenges posed by at-home reading programs currently being employed in some Central Florida elementary schools.