Changes in Reading Achievement at a Florida Elementary: A Randomized Control Study of Reading Mastery

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Date

2011-10

Authors

Stockard, Jean

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI)

Abstract

During the 2010-2011 school year, students in grades K-2 at a Florida elementary school were randomly assigned to receive reading instruction in the Direct Instruction program Reading Mastery (RM), Signature Edition, or in the Harcourt Brace (HB) program currently being used by the school. Training and support for the implementation of the RM curriculum were provided by the National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI). Data routinely collected by the district, including the Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading (FAIR) and the STAR Reading assessment (first and second graders only), were used to assess changes over time in reading skills. Comparisons were made between students’ scores in the fall, shortly after school began to their scores in the spring near the end of school. Similar findings appeared at all grade levels. Students assigned to RM began the school year with scores that were lower than the students assigned to HB. However, by the end of the school year, their scores were significantly higher. In other words, the gains made over time by the RM students were significantly greater than those made by the HB students. This pattern is shown in the figure below, with data combined across all grade levels. The advantage to the RM students appeared across all groups that are often seen as being at greater risk of having difficulties with reading: special education students, racial-ethnic minorities, students receiving free or reduced lunch, and boys.

Description

15 pages

Keywords

Technical Report, Direct Instruction (DI), Reading Mastery (RM), Reading Mastery Signature Edition (RMSE), Harcourt Brace (HB)

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