Date of Award

12-2019

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Denise E. Ross

Second Advisor

Dr. Richard W. Malott

Third Advisor

Dr. Kelly Kohler

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Luchara Wallace

Keywords

Teaching reading comprehension skills, reading strategies for elementary students, oral retelling, oral retelling interventions, reaching comprehension and self-monitoring, teaching story elements

Abstract

Comprehension is an essential component of reading proficiency that produces long-term gains for learners. However, many upper elementary school-age children struggle with reading comprehension. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of a self-monitoring intervention on reading comprehension for three elementary school-age children with reading delays. Two studies were conducted. In Study 1, behavioral skills training was used to teach participants the elements of a story retell and how-to self-monitor their own story retells. In Study 2, a multiple baseline design across participants was used to evaluate the effects of self-monitoring on four dependent variables: a) oral retell accuracy, b) oral retell fluency, c) oral reading fluency, and d) responses to comprehension questions. Results of Study 1 suggest that behavioral skills training was used to effectively teach the elements of a story retell and self-monitoring to all three participants. Results of Study 2 suggest that self-monitoring increased oral retelling fluency, oral retelling accuracy, and reading comprehension. Few differences were observed for oral reading fluency. Results, limitations, and implications for reading instruction are discussed.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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