Author(s)

Andrea Derringer

Date Approved

5-30-2013

Embargo Period

3-3-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. Learning Disabilities

Department

Language, Literacy, and Special Education

College

College of Education

Advisor

Kuder, S Jay

Subject(s)

Children with disabilities; Reading

Disciplines

Special Education and Teaching

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect Project Read has on the reading fluency and comprehension of third grade students with special needs. This study implemented a two group, pretest-posttest design. The participants were six students with special needs from a third grade inclusion classroom who scored about two grade levels below grade three. A pretest, intervention mid-test, and intervention posttest were utilized to collect data. The independent variables were the use of the Project Read Story Form Literature Connection materials. The dependent variable was the measure of the participants reading fluency and comprehension using the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). Overall, the study results showed Project Read to be an effective intervention in increasing students' reading fluency and comprehension. Participants in this study made about a one year independent reading level gain. The mean scores from the pretest to the intervention posttest showed an increase in reading fluency and comprehension in both groups. These intervention strategies and methods have shown to increase test scores and increase students' confidence to read. The results suggest that Project Read can be an effective instructional tool for improving the reading fluency and comprehension of students with special needs. This comprehensive, language arts program provides explicit instruction to benefit students with special needs in a small group setting with similar below grade reading levels.

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