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ERIC Number: ED643352
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 124
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-8193-9576-9
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Teachers' Perceptions of Teaching Literacy to English Language Learners (ELLs) Who Struggle with Reading and Who Are in a Suburban District in New York State
Kara A. Walker
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, St. John's University (New York)
Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP; National Center for Education Statistics, 2020) have shown that despite efforts to raise the literacy skill levels of students in elementary school, the average reading scores for fourth-grade students in 2019 were still cause for concern. The NAEP data showed the reading scores in four percentiles (i.e., 10th, 25th, 50th, and 75th) from 2019 dropped in comparison with the corresponding data garnered in 2017 (National Center for Education Statistics, 2020). In addition, the number of students whose first language is not English has soared by 105% in the last decade (i.e., 2010-2019) and yet they are placed in regular or general education classrooms with teachers who are underprepared or have no training related to the unforeseen obstacles these second language learners often encounter in school literacy programs (Constantino, 1994; Lucas et al., 2008). Thus, the classroom environment becomes an arena of active exchanges among students, teachers, and classroom resources that inherently are mitigated by the pedagogical beliefs of the educators driving the curriculum. The purpose of this study was to explore the beliefs held by third- and fourth-grade elementary teachers about their abilities to deliver literacy instruction to students and the impact of these beliefs on the type of literacy instruction they deliver in general education third- and fourth-grade classrooms. This study was framed using Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, which indicates literacy skills develop when students can participate in social and cultural activities (Pu, 2010). Bandura's concept of self-efficacy was used to understand how individuals perceive their ability to influence the things happening around them. Participants were third- and fourth-grade teachers across three school districts that shared similar demographics regarding student populations. Data collection occurred through surveys, interviews, and classroom observation field notes. Limitations related to the study sample size and the demographics of the school districts. Future research possibilities as well as recommendations for policymakers are discussed. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education; Grade 3; Primary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: National Assessment of Educational Progress
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A