Middle school students' ability to think critically and comprehend complex text is often challenging. Students often need additional academic support in this area. Close reading text is an instructional strategy that involves analyzing and looking at a text critically. The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study is to examine English…

There is an alarming rate of secondary students who struggle to read proficiently because they lack the literacy skills to acquire, process, and utilize information. State and federal learning standards require students to apply reading strategies in all content areas. These expectations require all teachers to know about reading strategies and…

This study examined the challenges teachers faced in teaching reading comprehension to secondary students within the study school. Reading comprehension is a key skill for academic success, yet many students struggle to understand complex texts in subjects such as history, science, and mathematics. The purpose of this research is to assess how…

This quantitative study endeavored to compare a new strategy of making irrelevant information less salient with a common reading strategy of highlighting to determine which would best aid students in making connections within and between multiple texts. Participants were 60 high school students, ranging in age from 14-17 years old. The adolescents…

This study investigated the intersection of literacy instruction and high school science teaching in response to low proficiency levels in these areas and interest in pursuing STEM careers among U.S. high school students. Participants reported using close reading practices combined with inquiry-based science instruction to enhance students'…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cognitive and multimodal strategies used by adolescent students as they read comic texts and traditional prose texts. This study looked at the strategies employed by adolescents in an eighth-grade English class. The cognitive and multimodal strategies that the participants used while reading were…

Scholars have been studying the reading challenges of English language learners (ELLs) for decades. ELLs from an urban high school in the Northeastern United States were failing to meet the annual adequate yearly progress target for English language arts (ELA) reading assessments. Although studies have demonstrated that ELLs continue to face…

This qualitative case study explored reading comprehension and vocabulary skills and strategies used by middle school teachers in grades 6-8. Theoretical foundations for the research revolved around constructivism, social constructivism, and adolescent literacy theory. Prior research showed that students in grades 3-8 were performing at…

The problem that this action research study addressed was the ineffective facilitation strategies used in professional development for teachers. The purpose of the study was to determine whether reflective practices impact teachers' instructional decisions. The study used Cognitive Coaching, a reflective coaching model, as its intervention. To…

This study explored the impact of strategy instruction for reading comprehension on ninth-grade English students identified as less-than-proficient readers and are therefore at-risk of failing the subject for the year. Subjects of the study were 34 English 9 Honors students during the 2020-2021 school year, separated into an at-risk cohort and a…

This study explored the self-efficacy of secondary general and special education teachers when teaching students with a specific learning disability in reading (SLDR) and using content area texts and resources. It investigated whether differences existed among high school general and special education teachers, between teachers of various content…

The literacy gap in public schools in the United States is especially severe within low socioeconomic secondary Title One schools. A research-based solution is the schoolwide use of instructional coaches for reading and other content area teachers with a multitiered literacy plan (MTLP). However, many teachers resist coaches because of negative…

This qualitative reader profile study explored how Retrospective Miscue Analysis (RMA), by Y.M. Goodman and Marek (1996), broadens the reading process and perceptions about the reading process, how RMA impacts a child's perception of him/herself as a reader, how RMA influences a child's definition of reading and the shifts in reading strategies as…

Educators often inquire about the readability of books and other documents used in the classroom, with the idea that readability supports students' reading comprehension and growth. Documents used in classrooms tend to be language-based, so readability metrics have long focused on the complexity of language. However, such metrics are unsuitable…

In northeastern United States vocational and technical high schools, students who participate in career technical education (CTE) demonstrate varying reading levels of informational literacy. CTE educators, in two high schools, were challenged to support students' literacy performance, which is critical for entry in post-secondary institutions or…