Varied Practice Reading

Project Details

FUNDING AGENCY

Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, Grant #R324A220269

UTK RESEARCHERS

Deborah K. Reed, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator)

Emily Beyer, (Project Manager)

RATIONALE

Students in Grades 6-8 who are not reading proficiently need both Tier 2 literacy intervention and support for learning in the text-based content areas of science and social studies. Varied Practice Reading (VPR) provides students multiple exposures to critical science and social studies language and information while building students’ reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension as well as writing skills.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Tier 2 reading intervention classes will be randomly assigned to either VPR or to the typical reading intervention used at the school. Students will spend one semester completing their assigned reading intervention. Parental consent is required but does not remove students from the class.

TIMELINE AND SAMPLE

  • Spring 2021: Grade 7
  • Fall 2023: Grades 6 and 8 (minimum of 100 students/grade = 200 students total)
  • Fall 2024: Grades 6, 7, and 8 (minimum of 100 students/grade = 300 students total)

VPR DESCRIPTION

  • Passage set = four passages on a single topic
  • The passages in each set have an 85% word overlap
  • 15 passage sets on science topics and 15 sets on social studies topics
  • Combination of fictional and informational genre
  • Gradual progression in Lexile level from two grade bands below through on-grade-level
  • Each set has comprehension questions and writing prompt based on state standards
  • Individualized lessons on fluency, vocabulary & comprehension, and writing skills
  • Digital delivery of all components

Half the intervention time is spent reading the passage set with a partner (Partner A reads passages 1 and 3; Partner B reads passages 2 and 4) and providing each other feedback. Half the intervention time is spent working independently to answer the comprehension questions and writing prompt on the set, then completing a lesson chosen by the teacher.

VPR TEACHER PROCEDURES

Prepare students for the intervention, partner them, monitor their work, and use the data to assign individualized lessons on the computer. Audio record student pairs once per week for the research team to monitor fidelity. Administer the pre/post tests on the computer.

TYPICAL INSTRUCTION TEACHER PROCEDURES

Audio record the class once per week and administer the pre/post tests on the computer.

We would like to thank our Knox County Schools partners:

Participating Middle Schools: Bearden, Gibbs, Northwest, Powell.

Special thanks to the following elementary schools for their help and support: Bearden, Beaumont Magnet, Belle Morris, Blue Grass, Brickey McCloud, Christenberry, Copper Ridge, Corryton, Fountain City, Gibbs, Green Magnet, Inskip, Londsdale, Maynard, Mooreland Heights, Norwood, Pleasant Ridge, Pond Gab, Powell, Rocky Hill, Sarah Moore Greene, Shannondale, Sequoyah, Spring Hill, Sterchi, West Haven, West Hills, and West View.

District Administration: Dr. Alicia Jones, Director of Student Supports; Ms. Paula Sarver,  RTI2 Specialist