In this dissertation I report findings from two studies of the literacy abilities of children with Williams syndrome (WS), a genetic disorder associated with intellectual disability. I had two overarching goals: 1) evaluate the applicability of theories of reading and spelling acquisition developed based on typically developing children to…

In this study, I explore college students' perception of their experiences in developmental reading courses, whether they feel stigma, and if said stigma discourages them from engaging in behaviors that promote retention and lead to completion. I hope the research reveals how feelings of stigma relate to help-seeking behavior among college…

Due to the life-altering effects reading ability has on one's life, the public, government, and educators have a vested interest in understanding how reading acquisition occurs and is most effectively taught. The body of research termed the 'science of reading' shows that at least 92 percent of children can read at grade level when given…

To be successful in school and society, students must learn to read proficiently. Two evidenced based reading interventions, repeated reading and listening passage preview, and a combination of the two have shown to be effective in increasing oral reading fluency. However, the current literature is lacking on how preference of the interventions…

Literacy is the foundation of learning supporting development in all content areas, and teachers are crucial to the academic achievement of all students. Preparing teachers to adequately meet this need is essential. The problem addressed in this study was that classroom teachers in California might not feel effective in teaching literacy skills to…

A person's literacy level impacts multitudinous aspects of their life. Determining and implementing effective procedures to address reading struggles continues to plague the education sector. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how teachers in the fourth grade describe how they select and implement reading intervention…

This study explored the literacy engagement of Hispanic rising seventh grade adolescents during a summer literacy program. Using a participatory social justice mixed methods design (Creswell & Plano-Clark, 2018), students' voices were used to design and refine an instructional model proposed to increase their level of engagement in literacy…

The problem addressed through this research study was although kindergarten through Grade 3 (K-3) reading teachers have received specific professional development in phonological methods, a gap in practice exists with the implementation of instructional strategies. The purpose of this study was to explore K-3 reading teachers' perspectives…

A majority of fourth grade students in the United States aren't reading proficiently (NAEP Reading: Reading Results, 2022). Deeper analysis of these assessment data surfaced a large gap between how our education system is serving students of color and their white counterparts. These gaps represent gaps in opportunity as access to quality…

This research attempts to shed light on the persistence of the separate but equal ideology. An opinion that was ruled unconstitutional in 1954 by the US Supreme Court. Failure by the Holmes County School Board through intentional delays and legalities compelled Beatrice Alexander to file a civil court case with the District Court for the Southern…

Literacy researchers have found that using evidence-based intervention strategies with students receiving response to intervention Tier 2 services impacted the support they receive. The problem was that researchers had not examined how elementary reading intervention teachers decided how to use effective evidence-based, culturally responsive…

There is an interconnected issue of lack of student achievement in reading and professional training around reading for teachers. This study sought to understand if self-reflective professional development in the area of the science of reading improves teacher confidence in teaching reading. The participants of the Cycle 1 process consisted of K-2…

This mixed methods study addresses special education teachers' (SETs) knowledge and beliefs about specially designed instruction for reading, individualized education program (IEP) development, and aspects of future professional development opportunities that are supportive on these topics. Special education teachers are the primary authors of the…

The quality of a person's life, their success in school, and their options after they exit school for employment, recreation, and independence are impacted by the person's ability to read; therefore, it is of paramount importance that all students receive reading instruction from a teacher who feels prepared to teach reading. Access to equitable…

More than two thirds of students with disabilities enter secondary school with reading difficulties (Capin et al., 2022). Moreover, half of all secondary students who struggle with reading may still have word recognition difficulties (Hock et al., 2009; Leach et al., 2003; Spear-Swerling, 2015) making lack of attention to reading instruction a…