Date of Award
8-2017
Document Type
Action Research Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Education
Department
Education
First Advisor
Siri Anderson
Department/School
Education
Abstract
This action research paper examines the relationship between explicit vocabulary instruction and reading comprehension, specifically with English Language Learners (ELL). The research took place in a second and fourth grade classroom in the same school in central Minnesota. Students took pretests and posttests for grade level comprehension and vocabulary assessments. Students would then receive explicit vocabulary instruction throughout the week. Finally, students would complete the same assessments as were completed at the beginning of Student surveys were also used to measure confidence and motivation. Data was collected in the form of pretest and posttest scores for grade level comprehension and vocabulary assessments, student surveys, and Fountas and Pinnell assessments. Study results suggest that explicit vocabulary instruction does have an effect on reading comprehension and that ELLs showed a greater degree of growth than non-ELLs. However, more research needs to be conducted to verify that the results were because of vocabulary instruction rather than students making gains from other reading areas. After completing this research, a next possible step would be to continue collecting data to increase the sample size. Another step would be to create a control group and only use explicit vocabulary instruction with some of the students and then compare data from both groups.
Recommended Citation
Moscho, Carolyn and Moscho, Ryan. (2017). Effects of Explicit Vocabulary Instruction On Reading Comprehension. Retrieved from Sophia, the St. Catherine University repository website: https://sophia.stkate.edu/maed/290