ERIC Number: EJ785002
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Aug
Pages: 27
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0922-4777
EISSN: N/A
Preparing Special Educators to Teach Reading and Use Curriculum-Based Assessments
Al Otaiba, Stephanie; Lake, Vickie E.
Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, v20 n6 p591-617 Aug 2007
Preparing special educators who are knowledgeable about evidence-based interventions for teaching reading to students with reading difficulties and who are capable of using curriculum-based assessments to monitor student progress and differentiate interventions is vital to the success of current school reform efforts. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the effect of tutoring and using assessment to monitor the progress of struggling readers on preservice teachers' (PSTs') knowledge and preparedness to teach reading. Also of interest was whether reading scores of tutored students improved. PSTs (n = 18) in an undergraduate reading methods course tutored at-risk second graders using an evidence-based intervention and monitored students' progress weekly. PSTs made significant growth on a measure of teacher knowledge about the structure of language and on a survey of their preparedness to teach reading. A qualitative analysis of PSTs' weekly reflections and final reports revealed that the majority used curriculum-based assessment data to describe students' response to tutoring and were beginning to use that data to make instructional decisions. On average, tutored students improved reading fluency, but did not demonstrate significant growth in reading relative to national norms. Implications and limitations of the study are described and directions for future research are discussed.
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Reading Difficulties, Methods Courses, Teacher Education, Teacher Characteristics, Curriculum Based Assessment, Reading Fluency, Program Effectiveness, Educational Change, Reading Instruction, Intervention, Tutoring, Scores
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2189
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A