Low-achieving beginning readers: Early identification, and structural modeling of remedial reading effects

Early identification of first-grade and second-grade remedial reading students and the effects of remedial reading in early elementary grades were respectively investigated in three studies. These three studies used the database established by Meyer, Wardrop, and Hastings (1989) for a longitudinal study on reading development conducted with two cohorts of students from kindergarten in three elementary schools in the Midwest. Home background indicators, home support indices for reading development, and measures of reading performance were the three common composites of variables used in the three studies. The first two studies employed the SPSS-X stepwise discriminant procedure to pursue the possibility of identifying new first-grade and second-grade remedial students earlier than their respective grades using Cohort 1 students. Significant discriminant functions found in the first cohort were validated in the second cohort. The major finding of the first two studies was that first-grade and second-grade students' status in remedial reading could be significantly identified as early as beginning kindergarten. However, discriminant analyses conducted at later grade levels demonstrated higher rates of overall correct prediction in both the remedial and non-remedial reading groups. The third study combined two cohorts of students, using LISREL VI, to test a tentative model which illustrated hypothesized relationships among home background, home support activities, end-of-year reading achievement, and students' status in first-grade and second-grade remedial reading. Positive effects of remedial reading were found at both grades, especially at second grade, when significant differences previously found between the remedial and non-remedial students disappeared after second-grade remedial reading. Recommendations based on the findings of the three studies were provided for application by school teachers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Chen, Ya-Mei

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wardrop, James L.

• Education, Special
• Education, Reading

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1990 Chen, Ya-Mei

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9114197
(UMI)AAI9114197

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/19368