Quantitative Article Analysis

The baseline data was established using the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System (BAS). This test assesses reading comprehension through the process of students reading a text at the appropriate instructional reading level and answering comprehension questions. This assessment tool measures students' ability for accuracy, self correction, fluency, comprehension, and writing. An overall level score is given through a letter identification, A-Z. For the baseline data purpose the letters A-Z were numbered off 1-26 to give the students' scores an adequate numerical score. The assessment determines whether students exceed expectations, meet expectations, approaches expectations, or does not meet expectation. A third-grade student at the

3. Assessment of Literacy Development in Early Childhood is a research that was conducted by Johnson, Peter H, and Rogers, Rebecca. Both authors highly believe in assessing literacy development, since it is a huge aspect in students’ literacy development. Both authors state, “Most literacy assessment occurs in the school years because, at least in most Western countries, literacy learning is considered the responsibility of the school, though when school literacy instruction actually begins…In the United States, since the thirties, literacy-related assessment has occurred in the early years of schooling because of beliefs about the relationship between learning and development” (pg. 1).

The leveling system is used to determine the reading levels of the students, as measured by scale of Fountas and Pinnel Guided Reading on A through Z, proficiency reading scores F-Far Below Proficient, BP- Below P-Proficient, and AP-Above Proficient. The researcher only measured levels B through V for second and third grade student in this study. In addition the researcher also analyzed advanced degree level teachers. The teachers in the study took the added steps to add valued contributions to reading instruction and assessment. The researcher also, looked at varying years of experience of national board certified teachers, advanced degree teachers with school as the random effect. There were several schools who participated in the study. The study provided valuable data of national board certified teachers that may prove to be useful to implement more rigorous programs to recognize effective reading

Data was collected from three schools - two schools that offered full-day kindergarten and one one school that offered half-day kindergarten to students in two separate classes. The study’s data sources included quantitative data collected by the participating schools for pre and post assessment of the student’s literacy skills and semistructured interviews with the kindergarten school staff. The quantitative portion of the study used Clay’s (1993) Observation Survey sub-tests to collect student achievement data. Clay’s (1993) Observation Survey is a tool used to asses the development of non-readers and emergent-reader. The six sub-scale tests used in this particular study were Letter Identification, Concepts About Print, Word Vocabulary, Ready to Read Words, Hearing and Recording Sounds in Words, and Book Reading Level (). The data from Clay’s Observation Survey sub-tests was collected by a district consultant in early October of 1999 (pre-test data) and then once again in late June of 2000 (post-test data). Data was only used from the students who had been present for both pre and post tests. After taking into account the possible confounding variables, on all of Clay’s (1993) Observation

Early reading success is the foundation of a student’s knowledge and self-esteem. The foundation also provides future opportunities for growth. Students must learn to read proficiently so that they are able to learn more in future grades, post-secondary schools, and the workforce. Beverly Tyner’s Small-Group Reading Instruction: A Differentiated Teaching Model for Beginning and Struggling Readers states “In the United States, which offers few career opportunities for the illiterate, teaching children to read proficiently is the most important single task in education.” (Tyner, 2009). Beverly Tyner created the Small-Group Differentiated Reading Model which incorporates research-based strategies for teaching beginning reading skills and skills

he most fundamental responsibility of schools is teaching students to read. Indeed, the future success of all students hinges upon their ability to become proficient readers. Recent scientific studies have allowed us to understand more than ever before how literacy develops, why some children have difficulty, and what constitutes best instructional practice. Scientists now estimate that fully 95 percent of all children can be taught to read. Yet, in spite of all our knowledge, statistics reveal an alarming prevalence of struggling and poor readers that is not limited to any one segment of society:

In every school across America, effective practices of reading instruction are being discussed. Calkins (2012) suggests that over 85% of students being tested on grade level literacy standards are non-proficient. Research suggests that students, who are unable to read proficiently by third grade, are not predicted to ever learn to read or have successful lives when they reach adulthood (Martinez, 2008). For these reasons, it is important that districts implement literacy models and instructional reforms that have been well researched and shown to be successful. The instructional reform method of Balanced Literacy is being used throughout the country to meet the challenging standards of the Common Core. Teachers will need

Many students who struggle with reading ask why should we read, what is the point? The point is that being able to read opens you up a whole new world of knowledge and imagination. But to have that new world opened up you need to be able to comprehend what you are reading. The primary goal of reading is to determine the meaning of

While all fields of academia possess some level of practical application, there remains an ever-important and all-encompassing skill which is needed to truly understand each subject: reading. Though literacy rates in the US near 100%, literacy unaccompanied by tools such as context, critical analysis, and sufficient skepticism can leave one lost in arduous texts and vulnerable to flawed arguments. This notion is rarely rejected by anyone at face value, rather, questions regarding the implementation and perceived importance of certain reading strategies alienates differing camps. Many attempts at mitigating the dilemma of subpar reading comprehension have been made, most notably, Daniel Willingham's proposed reform of early education, Michael

Reading is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information which is essential in being a productive member of society. If and when a student missed an opportunity to learn the skills necessary for reading, it’s has a profound impact on their lives. As educators we realize that teaching all children to read requires that every child receive excellent reading instruction. We are also aware that children, who are struggling with reading must receive

Research conducted by the National Reading Panel shows that there is a relationship between vocabulary and reading comprehension. The relationship between vocabulary and reading comprehension prompted researchers to recommend educators to identify students in the early grades with low language and vocabulary, and to intervene as soon as possible to prevent later reading comprehension difficulties. Once educators are awareness of the students that have low language and vocabulary, interventions should be implemented to target vocabulary development (p.308).

This question which is narrowed down by the results in a complicated statistical form does not address the fact that each comparison group that Margo chose was not labeled as deficient in the classroom or on their standardized test as the Team Read readers were when they were chosen for Team Read. These results that were detailed in Margo’s evaluation lacked credibility as the sample comparison group was generally not the same as the Team Read program participants. The participant often took what is referred to as a similar test but differs in comparison which can cause validity issues around the board for the independent evaluator.

Many students are passed on through the education system without having proper reading skills. These skills consist of fluency, comprehension, and phonemic awareness. Reading skills are foundational building blocks for elementary aged students. Students who lack proper reading skills, such as fluency or the rate in which they read, will ultimately lack comprehension of what they are reading due to the amount of time in which it takes the students to read. This leads to the question, how does fifth grade students lack of fluency affect his or her reading comprehension? Unfortunately, because reading skills taught in kindergarten and first grade focus mainly on phonemic

Learning to read is one of the most foundational skills needed for educational success. As children learn to read they develop the ability to decode, interpret, and store information from what they are reading. Reading comprehension allows a child to gain meaning from text and decoding allows a child to process sounds into words. Reading is vital to educational success because it allows a student to learn new information and build upon their prior knowledge. Students who attain reading skills are more likely to achieve academic success while students who have reading difficulties are likely to struggle academically and fall behind their peers. Reading difficulties have been prominent within the US for years. For example, the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress statistics shows that only about 33% of fourth graders are at or above proficient at reading (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2011). Studies show that the cause of reading difficulties is based primarily on genes, environment, and instructional experience (Vellutino, Fletcher, Snowling, Scanlon, 2004). Students with a language learning disorder have difficulty comprehending spoken and written language thus making it difficult to learn new information. Children with reading disabilities are more likely to struggle during elementary school years as students are asked to think about what they read more critically. Speech language pathologists and teachers can help

When data from students who had average accuracy and fluency scores, but lower comprehension scores were compared to data from those with similar accuracy and fluency but average comprehension, the consistent differences were found to be lower oral language and vocabulary skills in the poor comprehenders upon entry into formal schooling. (Nation, Cocksey, Taylor & Bishop) Thousands of dollars each year are spent on intervention, trying to improve the reading of children that show delays. When one reads, the clear goal is comprehension of what is read. Without communication of ideas between the author and reader, decoding texts is pointless. Most intervention programs are focused on phonics and word decoding. Oral language interventions concurrent with vocabulary and comprehension tasks at age eight have been shown to lead to significant improvements in reading comprehension. (Nation, et al., 2010). Reading comprehension is not merely a product of being able to decode words and sentences. How we teach children to process and integrate the ideas found in text can have a large impact on their ability to function in a world of ever expanding knowledge and information.