The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) READ 180 program was effective in helping to bridge the gap in reading achievement between African American and White students in three middle schools within one school district. The study took place in a rural public school district in the southeastern…

The increasing number of students who struggle to read has become a significant challenge for the nation's public schools. This study aimed to investigate the use of an online instructional reading program on the academic achievement of students with disabilities compared to race, gender, socioeconomic status, and family structure. The i-Ready…

While proficient reading development is a major cornerstone of schooling, it has become a problematic endeavor for America's public education system. Due to the growing diversity in K-12 student populations, school leaders are challenged with the task of developing and implementing curricula that meet the varied instructional and cultural needs of…

Despite the proliferation of literacy research suggesting that student-centered, culturally responsive instruction can improve literacy outcomes for racially and socioeconomically minoritized youth, one-size-fits-all literacy curricula and methods still dominate K-12 schools. This collective case study, which analyzes the figured worlds of two…

Adolescents who struggle with reading and literacy face significant challenges in academic and future success. This Spotlight focuses on effective interventions to address learning gaps and support literacy development. From optimizing tutoring to emphasizing the importance of reading support classes, these articles offer valuable perspectives.…

This study investigated the unique role of nonverbal reasoning in early English word decoding for native Chinese-speaking children across three studies. In Study 1, 80 Grade 1 and 2 participants completed assessments including nonverbal reasoning tests, English pseudoword reading, Chinese character reading, Chinese phonological awareness (CPA),…

Previous meta-analyses of reading strategy (RS) instruction in second and foreign language (L2) contexts have consistently shown that RS instruction has a positive impact on reading comprehension. However, whether RS instruction can promote both the use of RS "and" reading comprehension among English L2 learners is unclear. The effect of…

The ongoing reading crisis in the United States necessitates a shift toward instructional practices that are firmly grounded in empirical research. This manuscript critiques the use of Alphabetic Phonics, not only for its reliance on multisensory techniques but also for its incorporation of instructional features that contradict the principles of…

This study was to determine the effectiveness of augmented reality on phoneme and word reading for three first-grade students with developmental delays and autism in a self-contained elementary school classroom. Effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated with a multiple probe across word sets research design. An augmented reality iPad app was…

Students with limited language proficiency often struggle with reading comprehension and fluency, which can hinder their ability to engage with academic content, ultimately impacting their overall educational achievement. Targeted reading interventions are crucial to support second language (L2) learners and ensure equal educational opportunities.…

Effective teacher preparation goes beyond enhancing EFL pre-service teachers' English proficiency. It also involves equipping them with the skills to design culturally relevant course materials. However, little attention has been paid to how locally and globally contextualized materials influence EFL pre-service teachers' reading strategy…

This paper provided new evidence on three kindergarten instructional practices that may be associated with better reading and math skills, particularly for children of less educated parents: (1) full-day kindergarten; (2) more instructional time; and (3) ability grouping. The analysis used Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Cohort…

We evaluated the impact of a small-group reading comprehension intervention taught by English as a second language (ESL) teachers to multilingual students classified as English learners (ML-ELs). Sixteen groups of students in grades 3-5 (n = 66) were randomly assigned to business-as-usual control or treatment conditions. Teachers implemented the…

Phonemic Awareness is the understanding that words are made up of individual sounds. These individual sounds are referred to as phonemes. Within the English language, there are about 44 sounds, and several of these are rather difficult for children to grasp. Mastery of phonemic awareness is a foundational skill for reading, yet is often skimmed…

Little research has been conducted to investigate relationships between students' community of inquiry (CoI) perceptions and their attitudes towards reading circles (ARC). To bridge the gap this quantitative research reports a cohort of Chinese students' perceptions of CoI and its prediction for their attitudes towards reading circles (RC) in…