ERIC Number: EJ1008330
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Apr
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1041-6080
EISSN: N/A
Derivational Morphological Awareness, Academic Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension in Linguistically Diverse Sixth Graders
Kieffer, Michael J.; Box, Catherine DiFelice
Learning and Individual Differences, v24 p168-175 Apr 2013
This study investigated the multiple roles of morphological awareness in reading comprehension for Spanish-speaking language minority (LM) learners and their native English-speaking (NE) peers. Sixth-grade students (N = 137; 82 LM, 55 NE) were assessed on English measures of derivational morphological awareness, morphologically complex academic vocabulary, silent word reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Multiple-group path analyses indicated that morphological awareness made a significant unique contribution to comprehension as well as indirect contributions to comprehension via academic vocabulary and word reading fluency. Predictive relations were the same across language groups, with the exception of the indirect contribution via academic vocabulary, which was greater for NE speakers than for LM learners. Findings extend prior research by confirming the importance of morphological awareness in literacy development for LM learners and specifying particular roles in academic vocabulary and fluency development, suggesting the value of integrating morphology into multifaceted reading instruction in linguistically diverse classrooms. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Literacy, Reading Instruction, English (Second Language), Speech Communication, Reading Comprehension, Reading Fluency, Language Minorities, Grade 6, Second Language Learning, Spanish Speaking, Morphology (Languages), Academic Discourse, Vocabulary Development, Role, Language Fluency, Metalinguistics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A