Improving Literacy

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that the purpose of this study is to determine if systematic phonics instruction is effective in teaching inner-city African-American eighth graders how to achieve functional literacy at an age appropriate level. The paper's study focuses on the reading program developed by I.W. Gaskins, "Word Detectives: Benchmark Extended Word Identification Program for Beginning Readers" (BWIP). Using Tyler's objectives-based evaluation methodology, the research effort evaluates the effective use and success of the reading instruction using the BWIP method among a student population within a middle school.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Introduction of Project
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Rationale of the Study
Statement of the Hypothesis and Research Questions
Proposed Methodology
Summary

From the Paper:

"According to the Georgia Public Education Report Card for the academic year 2002-2003, the school targeted in the current research case study ranked below 58% passing for the reading comprehension scores. Teachers and administrators continue to seek ways to improve student learning and increase test scores. In addition to the basal reading series, schools in the district make a variety of reading programs available to their students. The effectiveness of the program titled Word Detectives: Benchmark Extended Word Identification Program for Beginning Readers, that uses systematic phonics in reading comprehension and word analysis was the program selected for use of the 2003-2004 school year, and is the program that will be monitored for its effectiveness in this applied dissertation."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adams, M. J. (1990). Beginning to read: Thinking and learning about print. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
• Anderson, R. C., Hiebert, E. H., Scott, J. A., & Wilkinson, I. A. G. (1985). Becoming a nation of readers: The report of the Commission on Reading. Champaign, IL: Center for the Study of Reading, University of Illinois.
• Cunningham, P. W., & Allington, R. L. (1999). Classrooms that work: They can all read and write. New York: Addison-Wesley.
• Donahue, P. L., Voelkl, K. E., Campbell, J. R., & Mazzeo, J. (2000). NAEP 1998 reading report card for the nation and the states. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.
• Gaskins, I. W. (1996). Word detectives: Benchmark extended word identification program for beginning readers. Media, PA: Benchmark School.

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