Date of Graduation
2014
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
College/School
School of Education
Department
Learning and Instruction
Program
Learning & Instruction EdD
First Advisor
Patricia Busk
Second Advisor
Yvonne Bui
Third Advisor
Stephen Cary
Abstract
This meta-analysis synthesized research on effective instructional practices and strategies in second through fifth grade for Spanish-speaking English Learners (ELs) who have reading disabilities and English Learners who struggle with reading. The central research problem is the dearth of research addressing literacy instruction for ELs with reading disabilities, making identification of effective reading interventions difficult. The inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis resulted in 15 quasi-experimental or single-subject empirical research studies that used reading interventions to improve the reading comprehension performance of ELs. The overall average effect size for the meta-analysis, not based on homogenous studies, was 1.15. When outliers were eliminated and based on 12 homogenous studies, the average effect size was .72. Importantly, only one study that met the inclusion criteria directly investigated ELs with reading disabilities. Results from the five studies that used features of culturally responsive pedagogy including the use of Spanish in instruction indicated a positive effect for ELs struggling with reading. Greater numbers of days of instruction were associated with improved reading comprehension. Small-group instruction, professional development aligned with explicit, comprehensive, and intensive instruction focused on the development of oral language skills using culturally responsive pedagogy, all integrated within evidence-based commercial reading programs or regular school-based curricula have the potential to improve the reading comprehension of ELs with reading disabilities and ELs who struggle with reading. The major finding of this meta-analysis is that there is a dearth of research on Spanish-speaking ELs with reading disabilities and ELs who struggle with reading. The findings support the conclusion that extensive research needs to be conducted on identifying effective reading intervention for ELs with reading disabilities and ELs who struggle with reading.
Recommended Citation
Stephens, D. (2014). Effective Reading Interventions for Spanish-Speaking English Learners with Reading Disabilities, English Learners Who Struggle with Reading, or Both: A Meta-Analysis of Second through Fifth Grades. Retrieved from https://repository.usfca.edu/diss/96
Included in
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, Reading and Language Commons, Special Education and Teaching Commons
