Degree Name
EdD (Doctor of Education)
Program
Educational Leadership
Date of Award
12-2005
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Nancy Dishner
Committee Members
Louise L. MacKay, Pamela Evanshen, Terrence A. Tollefson
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if an association exists between reading methodologies and reading achievement as measured by the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) for sixth-grade students. The four reading methodology groups were: developmental reading, literature-based reading, Accelerated Reader program, and Accelerated Reader program with vocabulary study. The sample included 236 students in one middle school located in Northeast Tennessee during the 2004-2005 school year. Comparisons were made using TCAP criterion-referenced test reading/language arts scores, TCAP proficiency levels for content, meaning, and vocabulary categories for 2005, and pretest and posttest scores on the student assessment of reading. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
The findings indicated significant differences in the reading methodology groups. The developmental group performed much lower than the other three groups. The literature-based group performed much higher than the other groups. Even when the analysis of the gain scores showed no statistical difference among groups, the literature-based group had the largest gain. The students in this study exceeded the state's annual goal of scoring 80% proficient or higher. The literature-based group and both Accelerated Reader groups exceeded the goal by achieving 90% on proficiency levels, whereas the developmental group failed to meet the state's goal in content and meaning but met the goal for vocabulary. Overall, the Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Reader with vocabulary groups were similar across all dependent variables.
Document Type
Dissertation - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Lewis, Susan Carol Salyer, "Evaluating Alternative Methodologies to Teaching Reading to Sixth-Grade Students and the Association with Student Achievement." (2005). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1074. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1074
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.