Increasing Reading Levels Of Third Graders Through The Increased Use Of Technology And Differentiated Instruction
Chapter I: Introduction
Description of the Community
The writer’s study will focus on a school located in an inner city neighborhood in a southeastern state. The community is 99 percent African American and approximately 91 percent of the students receive free/reduced price lunches.
Writer’s Work Setting
The writer works in an elementary school which houses pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The total student population is 792 students. Of the 792 students, there is one White student, three Hispanic students, one American Indian and the remainder of the students are African American. There are about twenty more female students than there are male students. The building itself is in need of minor renovations, but is in overall good condition. In addition, almost every classroom has at least one computer.
Writer’s Role
The writer is a long-term substitute teacher. Mainly, the writer works exclusively with third grade. However, at times, the writer fills in wherever needed. Because the writer is not fully certified to teach at this level, he cannot legally be given his own classroom. At the same time, it is safe to say that the writer has the same children each day and “considers” them as his own students.
Chapter II: Study of the Problem
Problem Statement
Twenty-three percent of third grade students at the writer’s school read below grade level and perform poorly on standardized tests.
Problem Description
Many children across the United States have a difficult time learning to read. The importance of reading is extremely vital in the educational success of children, and there have even been connections made between early trouble with reading and serious behavioral problems in the classroom. Students that find reading difficult may feel ashamed and frustrated, and many may have home lives that reveal common obstacles to learning such as...
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