Title: Extensive Reading Interventions for Grades K 3: From Research to Practice A Webinar Sponsored by the
1Extensive Reading Interventions for Grades K -
3 From Research to PracticeA Webinar
Sponsored by the Center on Instruction--Special
Education Strand Vaughn Gross Center for
Reading and Language ArtsThe University of Texas
at AustinOctober 24, 2007Featured
PresentersDr. Sharon Vaughn, The University of
Texas at AustinDr. Jeannie Wanzek, Florida State
University
2The Center on Instruction is operated by RMC
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Florida Center for Reading Research at Florida
State University RG Research Group Horizon
Research, Inc., the Texas Institute for
Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics at the
University of Houston and the Vaughn Gross
Center for Reading and Language Arts at the
University of Texas at Austin.The contents of
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3Todays Agenda
- Introduction (Dr. Nancy Scammacca)
- Overview of the synthesis (Dr. Sharon Vaughn)
- Study Findings (Dr. Jeanne Wanzek)
- Implications (Dr. Sharon Vaughn)
- Question and Answer Session
- Evaluation
4Extensive Reading Interventions in Grades K - 3
From Research to PracticeScammacca, Vaughn,
Roberts, Wanzek, Torgesen (2007)
5Introduction
- While the goals of adopting an RTI framework are
often clear, the costs and methods of effective
implementation are not always as clear. - These decisions should be based on evidence.
- Intervention implementation decisions are often
the hardest.
6Purpose of The Synthesis
- To increase the knowledge of those working with
or in state departments of education and local
education agencies on reading-related issues for
primary-grade students at risk for reading
difficulties and learning disabilities
7Caveat
- This report is not intended as a comprehensive
review of all aspects of the research on early
literacy instruction for struggling readers or
students with learning disabilities (LD). - It presents and discusses a set of studies that
met specific inclusion criteria. - The findings represent one data source for
decision-making about instruction for struggling
early readers.
8 RTI Goals
- Early Identification
- Targeted Interventions
- Ongoing Progress Monitoring
- Use of Increasingly Intensive Tiers
- Improved Confidence in Identification
9 Types of Interventions
- Educators are challenged to know the types of
interventions and their efficacy - Standardized
- Problem solving
- More individualized
10 Questions?
11Studies Reviewed
- Studies published in peer reviewed journals
(1995-2005) - Students in grades K-3
- Students with learning disabilities or identified
as at-risk for reading difficulties - Interventions
- Early literacy
- 100 sessions or more
- Not part of general education curriculum
- Reading outcomes measured
12Findings Related to Duration of Intervention
- All interventions were provided 4-5 times per
week (generally around 30 minutes) - Few differences in the magnitude of effects for
participants based on length of intervention, but
further information on the number of hours of
intervention would extend our understanding
13Findings Related to Instructional Group Size
- Most studies were delivered with one-on-one
grouping format with high effects - Limited information on small group instruction
positive outcomes demonstrated
14Findings Related to Grade Level
- Most studies identified students for intervention
in K-1 high effects demonstrated - Limited information on 2nd-3rd grade
15Example 1 Santa Hoien (2000)
- Grade 1 at-risk readers who scored in lowest 20
on screener - 11 intervention
- Implemented by general ed teacher, Title I
tutors, other educators - 30 minutes/5 days per week/35 weeks
16Example 1 Santa Hoien (2000), cont.
- Components
- Re-reading of books at progressive reading levels
- Word study
- Instruction in meta-cognitive strategies
- Sentence writing
- Guided reading of a new book at a slightly higher
reading level that is re-read at the start of the
next session
17Example 1 Santa Hoien (2000), cont.
- Results
- Intervention significantly higher than comparison
on all posttest measures (spelling, word
recognition, and passage reading) - 52 of the intervention reading at or above grade
level at posttest 24 of comparison
18Example 2 Mathes et al. (2005)
- Grade 1 at-risk readers who met risk criteria on
multiple screeners - 13 intervention
- Implemented by teachers
- 40 minutes/5 days per week/40 weeks
- 2 intervention groups proactive reading (PR) and
responsive reading (RR) - Comparison group received enhanced classroom
instruction (EC)
19Example 2 Mathes et al. (2005), cont.
- Components
- Phonemic awareness and alphabetic skills
- Using skills in reading and comprehending text
- Teachers modeled concepts and strategies guided
practice scaffolding - PR group had pre-determined scope and sequence
- RR group teachers followed menus
20Example 2 Mathes et al. (2005), cont.
- Results
- PR and RR groups grew more rapidly in
reading-related skills during intervention - End-of-year outcomes near grade level norms on
standardized measures of word attack, word
identification, passage comprehension, reading
fluency, and spelling
21Example 3 Vadasy et al. (2002)
- Grade 1 2 at-risk readers who scored lt 90 on
WRAT-R reading - 11 intervention
- Implemented by community tutors (trained)
- 30 minutes/4 days per week/35 weeks
- Compared 1st grade only (SP) 2nd grade only
(TP) both 1st 2nd grades (SPTP) no
intervention comparison group
22Example 3 Vadasy et al. (2002), cont.
- Components
- Sound Partners/grade 1
- Emphasis on letter sounds, decoding, spelling,
fluency - Thinking Partners/grade 2
- Emphasis on comprehension strategies
23Example 3 Vadasy et al. (2002), cont.
- Results
- Students receiving 2nd grade intervention only
(Thinking Partners) did not perform significantly
better than control group - After first grade intervention (Sound Partners)
student gains averaged 17 standard score points
on measure of word identification, word attack,
and spelling. - Additional intervention in 2nd grade (Sound
Partners Thinking Partners) did not
significantly improve outcomes for students
24Summary of Findings
- Generally positive outcomes found for students
with reading difficulties and disabilities
participating in extensive interventions - Few differences in duration of intervention
though number of hours of intervention was not
possible to calculate from information in studies - 11 instruction yielded high effects few studies
implementing small group instruction - K-1 intervention demonstrated high effects few
studies examining 2nd-3rd grade extensive
interventions - Most interventions implemented by school
personnel, indicating feasibility in practice
(about half provided by paraprofessionals)
25Questions?
26Implications for Practice Considerations
- Preliminary and in need of further validation
- Use caution when directly comparing effect sizes
among different studies - Implications relate best to students judged to be
among the 20 to 25 most at risk for reading
problems in grades K-2
27Intervention Implementation
- Extensive interventions can be effective when
provided by relatively low-cost implementers
(paraprofessionals)
28Interventionist Training
- A range of training was provided to
interventionists
29Gains from Intervention
- Gains from early extensive interventions appear
to be maintained over time, at least into second
grade.
30No one right way
- Findings from these studies do not identify any
particular method as the one right way to
provide early extensive interventions to students
at risk for reading problems in the early grades. - Note All effective interventions in these
studies shared some essential elements - Training in PA, decoding and word study
- Guided and independent reading of progressively
difficult texts - Writing exercises
- Engaging students in using comprehension
strategies while reading
31Elements Possibly Related to Success
- Group size (one-on-one, small group)
- Daily or near-daily frequency of intervention
sessions - Early identification of students in need of
intervention in K or 1st grade
32More Knowledge About Early Interventions
- We know considerably more about the effectiveness
of early interventions than we do about
interventions provided at later stages of
development. - More studies addressing K and 1st grade than 2nd
and 3rd grade.
33More Research Needed
- More research is needed on students whose
response to treatment is relatively low.
34Limitations
- Experimental groups often smaller than control
groups. - Not possible to determine if impacts were result
of more intensive instruction or a specific type
of instruction. - Effect sizes do not communicate what proportion
of students responded weakly or not at all to the
intervention.
35Estimating Costs for Extensive Interventions
- Per Hour Cost of Teacher x Hours of Intervention
- _____________________________________
- Number of Students in Group
- Cost of certified teacher 50/hour
- Cost of paraprofessional 25/hour
Vaughn et al. (2007)
36Estimated Personnel Cost Per Student
37Question and Answer Session