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…

Developing the high levels of reading proficiency necessary to navigate the secondary curriculum is challenging for ELLs, but it is an essential component of academic success in their secondary and subsequent post-secondary education. Despite the importance of understanding the literacy needs of this population, research documenting the reading…

Many adolescent readers experience difficulties comprehending informational text, which may result from underlying difficulties with foundational skills (e.g., word recognition and fluency), knowledge demands (e.g., background, text structure, and vocabulary), and/or reading motivation. Supplemental interventions for adolescents targeting only…

Purpose: Some children with cerebral palsy (CP) have difficulty acquiring conventional reading and writing skills. This systematic review explores the different types of literacy instruction and their effects on the reading and writing skills of children with CP. Method: Relevant studies published between 2000 and 2020 were identified using…

Emerging evidence suggests that the combination of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and reading training may provide promising benefits for dyslexia; however, the clinical effects and the role of individual differences in tDCS outcomes for dyslexia remain unclear. To this end, the present study investigated the effects of tDCS on…

Reading engagement is crucial to motivating EFL learners in reading classes. Recent research has attempted to explore the effect of affective engagement on reading comprehension, but there exists little empirical research regarding the effect of a text-driven approach to task design and development that draws on second language acquisition…

In this study, the process of learning Turkish as a foreign language by watching TV series was analysed. It is a qualitative based study with document analysis, case study and mixed research design. The case study is based on the analysis of data obtained from 44 citizens of the Republic of Kosovo who have learned Turkish by watching TV series.…

The purpose of this study was to systematically review literature on assistive technology (AT) used to develop literacy skills in students with physical disabilities. Primary databases were searched using search terms AT, disability, and literacy. Eight studies were eligible for inclusion. Six studies reported positive change to literacy…

Age is an essential factor in Second Language Acquisition (SLA), impacting the success of students and instructional methods. The purpose of this study is to examine the age factor in SLA by examining three age categories -- children, adolescents and adults. In doing so, the study considers the Critical Period Hypothesis as a base of linguistic…

The changing nature of communication has accentuated the need to develop multimodal literacy in students. Although the conventional way of asking a series of questions to elicit students' comprehension has helped build reading and comprehension skills, teachers could provide more support in the form of the language, pedagogical scaffolds, and…

This three-article dissertation gathers teachers' reflections about Reciprocal Teaching (Vygotsky, 1978) and gauges the role of teacher expectations on the reading comprehension success of African American students. Article One provides a detailed literature review outlining the history and significant research applicable to the subject of…

Adolescent learners will engage in literacy learning if they understand its relevance to both academic pursuits and future success. Exploring the literacy skills that are embedded in the technology that saturates adolescents' lives helps to establish the relevance of literacy education. Educators who design lessons around collaboration, inquiry,…

Embedding discipline-specific literacy instruction within social studies content can assist a variety of students, including those with reading difficulties, to build higher-level reading abilities, increase knowledge acquisition, and improve their overall content learning. Moreover, many state learning standards already address the need for…

A majority of reading-related intervention studies aiming to remediate struggling readers' reading outcomes assess student performance immediately following the conclusion of an intervention to determine intervention effects. Few studies collect follow-up data to measure the long-term sustainability of treatment effects. Hence, the aim of the…

Objective: The purpose of this study was to carry out a systematic review of literature of effective reading intervention for students with -- intellectual disabilities (ID), intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and multiple disabilities (MD). Findings and recommendations for future research are discussed. Background and rationale:…