More than 50% of sixth-grade students at an urban middle school in the Southeastern United States scored below the 50th percentile (B50PR) of expected student outcomes on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth reading assessment. The problem to addressed in this study was that many sixth-grade students in the United States lack proficiency…

Picture books are a common staple of children's reading diet. The role of pictures in reading acquisition, however, remains a topic of considerable controversy. To examine the effect of pictures on second graders' (N=40) oral reading behavior and comprehension, this study used a 2 (picture condition) x 2 (genre) x 3 (reading ability) mixed ANOVA…

Despite an abundance of research centered on reading and applied behavior analysis, minimal literature exists on the use of applied behavior analysis methodologies to treat reading disabilities. This dissertation-in-practice action research study examined the extent to which a behavior-analytic intervention infused with the science of reading…

Identifying at-risk readers in early grades is an ongoing challenge for educators, especially those in Title I schools where environmental and economic disadvantages may negatively impact students' reading ability. The purpose of the current study was to compare methods of identifying at-risk readers in kindergarten through third grade in Title I…

This exploratory case study used purposive sampling to explore how third-grade students' reading identities in one suburban western New York school classroom are impacted by social negotiation. It found that social negotiation, literacy practices, the notion of a chapter book "benchmark," personal reading histories and book access, and…

The purpose of this study is to investigate if a mindfulness mandala coloring activity reduces a student's anxiety about reading. Reading is a fundamental skill for all other academic success, making proficient reading skills necessary. This study investigates if a reduction in a third grade student's reading anxiety results in changes to oral…

Teachers must devote significant time to making the instructional decisions necessary to effectively plan and prepare small group lessons. Although small group instruction has attracted the attention of researchers, there is a lack of understanding in the effective implementation of reading interventions to support struggling readers. The purpose…

Based on recommendations from research, leaders in a north Texas public school district implemented social emotional learning (SEL) to address academic gaps among high residential mobility (HRM) students. Incorporating SEL instruction improves academic achievement 11 percentile points on average; however, in Adoniram School District (ASD), 2021…

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many students had their educational experiences disrupted as schools became shuttered and for some students virtual schooling began. When school facilities closed and online began, families had increased responsibilities for their children's education. Subsequently, there is an increase in attention to…

This study explored the multifaceted dynamics affecting the academic performance of high-achieving elementary students on end-of-year reading exams. It examines the influences of gender, age, genre preferences, the frequency of book borrowing, and language modality of instruction, all within the context of the elementary school library.…

Recent data have shown that up to 65% of students in Grades 4 and 8 are reading below grade level. The problem addressed in this study was that students with a high dialect density have a more difficult time with mastery of foundational skills in reading, leading to unfortunate reading mastery outcomes as they progress through school. The purpose…

The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest, control group design study was to investigate the effects of Response to Intervention (RtI) and computer-based programs on addressing literacy acquisition skills. This study is important because there is an inordinate number of students who are designated as requiring special…

The purpose of the current research is to determine the effect of changing the English Language Art curriculum on the reading growth of fourth-grade students who attended a public school district located in a suburban community in the Northeastern part of the United States. This ex-post facto study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the…

In an urban school district in a southwestern state, the problem investigated was that elementary educators are struggling to support the reading needs of Grade 3 through Grade 6 students from families having limited access to economic resources. Students with higher socioeconomic status (SES) outperform students with low SES backgrounds. Students…

The problem this study addressed is based on research that has shown that students reading below grade level at the end of third-grade are at higher risk of not graduating high school on time with their peers or not graduating high school at all. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether third-grade reading proficiency is an indicator…