Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of La Verne, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-147).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of La Verne, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 142-147).

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction Programs / F. Todd Goodson / The purpose for this study is to look at the effects of a specific comprehension strategy—Reciprocal Teaching (RT; Palincsar & Brown, 1983,1984) on the performance of intermediate elementary students in the intermediate elementary grades on a standardized literacy assessment. The study was carried out in two implementation stages: a pilot with a small sample of fourth graders and a full-scale study with third, fourth, and fifth graders in a suburban public school district in the Midwest. The pilot study was implemented in two fourth grade classrooms, a total of 39 students, nine of which met the criterial for the experimental group who scored below the 25th percentile on an AIMSweb Maze 2016 fall benchmark. The full-scale study consisted of 269 students in grades three, four, and five across the same district, except for the fourth graders who previously were involved in the pilot. There were 71 students who met the criteria for the experimental group of scores below the 25th percentile on an AIMSweb Maze 2016 winter benchmark; however, after signed consent forms were returned, 59 participated. The students in the experimental group participated in intervention utilizing RT for approximately four weeks in Tier II small groups, instructed by classroom teachers at each elementary school. Regression discontinuity was used to determine the effect of RT on the students’ comprehension as indicated by their spring benchmark scores. The results of the pilot study showed a significant main effect in the scores along the regression line, indicating a positive effect for the intervention. Regression discontinuity analysis between groups indicated that a significant main effect exists for the intervention group. The full-scale study examined the effects per grade level for all students and with a set caliper for students whose scores were four points above and below the cut-off point, or winter 2016 benchmark, for the grade level. The results of the full-scale study focusing on all scores showed a significant main effect in the scores along the regression line, indicating a positive effect for the intervention for all grades; the effect was significant for all grades, but mostly for fourth and fifth graders. Regression discontinuity analysis between groups indicated that a significant main effect exists for the intervention group. When looking at scores within the caliper of four points above or below the benchmark, all scores showed a significant main effect in the scores along the regression line, indicating a positive effect for the intervention for all grades. Regression discontinuity analysis between groups indicated that a significant main effect exists for the intervention group within the caliper at each grade level.

The aim of the study is to increase the knowledge of how teachers in grades 1–3 describe that they organize teaching to develop students' reading comprehension and how they motivate their choices. Based on the aim, three research questions were formulated: How do teachers teach reading comprehension and reading comprehension strategies? Why do teachers teach read comprehension and reading strategies that as they do? What do teachers think is important in teaching to help students develop reading comprehension and reading comprehension strategies? The study is qualitative and the data collection method is semistructured interviews. The informants in the study comprise five competent teachers in the subject Swedish for grades 1–3. The collected material was transcribed and analyzed based on a didactic approach and a socio-cultural perspective.        The result shows that teachers teach reading comprehension and reading comprehension strategies in varying ways. They use reading aloud, reading lessons, book discussions, ”Läsfixarna”, questions and conversations, as well as working methods that allow students to help and learn from each other. The most important elements emphasized by the teachers as contributing to the development of reading comprehension is scaffolding and guidance, starting from scratch, varying working methods, conversation and motivation. / Syftet med studien är att öka kunskapen om hur lärare i årskurs 1–3 beskriver att de lägger upp sin undervisning för att utveckla elevers läsförståelse och hur de motiverar sina val. Utifrån syftet formulerades tre forskningsfrågor: Hur undervisar lärare om läsförståelse och läsförståelsestrategier? Varför undervisar lärare om läsförståelse och läsförståelsestrategier som de gör? Vad anser lärare är viktigt i undervisningen för att bidra till elevers utveckling av läsförståelse och läsförståelsestrategier? Studien är kvalitativ och insamlingsmetoden är semistrukturerade intervjuer. Informanterna i studien utgörs av fem behöriga lärare i ämnet svenska för årskurs 1–3. Det insamlade materialet transkriberades och analyserades utifrån en didaktisk ansats och ett sociokulturellt perspektiv.       Resultatet visar att lärare undervisar i läsförståelse och i läsförståelsestrategier på varierande sätt. De använder högläsning, läsläxa, boksamtal, Läsfixarna, frågor och samtal samt arbetssätt som skapar möjlighet för eleverna att hjälpa och lära av varandra. Det viktigaste faktorerna som lärarna framhåller som bidrar till elevers utveckling av läsförståelse är stöttning och vägledning, börja från grunden, varierande arbetssätt, samtalet och motivationen.

Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka hur verksamma lärare i årskurs F-3 beskriver att de använder sig av högläsning av skönlitteratur och om den används för att främja elevers utveckling av läsförståelse. Materialet har samlats in genom kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer och det har varit fyra verksamma lärare som jobbar i årskurs F-3 som deltagit i undersökningen. Studien har varit inspirerad av fenomenografisk ansats, då undersökningen vill försöka återge hur dessa lärare upplever fenomenet högläsning av skönlitteratur. Studiens resultat indikerar att verksamma lärare planerar och genomför högläsning där elever ges möjlighet till att utveckla läsförståelse men också många fler förmågor. Genom resultatet dras slutsatsen att verksamma lärare använder högläsning av skönlitteratur för många olika syften och lärarna är väl medvetna om högläsningens möjligheter. / The purpose of this study was to investigate whether reading fiction aloud will promote students' development of reading comprehension. The material was collected through qualitative semi-structured interviews with four teachers who work in grade F-3. The study was inspired by phenomenographic approach, as the study attempted to reproduce how these teachers experience the phenomenon of reading of fiction aloud. The study's results indicate that when teachers have a plan and execute reading fiction aloud, students can develop reading comprehension as well as many more abilities. These results conclude that teachers use reading fiction aloud for many different purposes and the teachers are well aware of the benefits of reading aloud.