Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
John Kellmayer
Committee Member
John Evans
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
achievement gain, administration, below basic, elementary school, Grade 4, Grade 5, interrupted time series, literacy coaches, reading achievement, reading comprehension, reading program, reading strategies, rural schools, Soar to Success, staff development, state proficiency, student achievement, students, suburban schools, teachers
Abstract
This project implemented a program to increase reading comprehension skills and reading strategies in a rural/suburban elementary school. The program utilized the following planned solution strategies: (a) implement a new reading program intended to infuse reading comprehension strategies into the Grade 5 academic program, (b) increase staff and administrative knowledge of reading comprehension strategies, and (c) decrease in the number of Grade 5 students categorized as below basic for state proficiency in reading comprehension. These intervention strategies involved students, teachers, literacy coaches, and administration. The Soar to Success (Cooper, Boschken, McWilliams, & Pistochini, 1999) comprehension model was the fundamental program implemented.
The interrupted time series tool was used to evaluate the project. The program was deemed successful in that there was a reading achievement gain. The percentage of students in the below basic category was reduced by 4% and a reduction was maintained for 3 subsequent years. The reading program will be expanded to include Grade 4.