Assessment for Effective Intervention, Jul 1, 2002
During the past 20 years, researchers have identified core deficits of struggling readers and dev... more During the past 20 years, researchers have identified core deficits of struggling readers and developed treatments that prevent reading failure. However, whereas progress has been made toward designing generally effective reading interventions, not all children respond to these treatments. Such students have been dubbed "nonresponders," and are the current focus of a growing body of research. Because nonresponsiveness to generally effective instruction is a relatively new issue, researchers have yet to agree on how to identify nonresponders. The purpose of this article is to propose a "dual-discrepancy" approach to identifying such children. A rationale for such an approach is given. Then, curriculum-based measurement is suggested as an effective tool for detecting dual discrepancies. An example is provided from an ongoing program of research that uses the dual-discrepancy approach to identify nonresponders.
We attempted to strengthen an evidence-based, peer-mediated, first-grade reading program (First G... more We attempted to strengthen an evidence-based, peer-mediated, first-grade reading program (First Grade Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies [PALS]) by modestly revising its content and adding a repeated-reading (RR) component. In a cluster-randomized trial, we conducted a component analysis of the revised program by creating two versions of it. “PALS+Fluency” represented the modified program with an RR component, whereas “PALS-Only” represented the same program without RR. We tested the efficacy of the two PALS versions together against controls and against each other to determine if peer-mediated RR had “value added.” With moderator analyses, we further explored whether the PALS programs benefited weaker and stronger readers alike. Thirty-three first-grade classroom teachers (and 491 students) from eight urban schools were randomly assigned to the three study groups within their schools. The PALS-Only and PALS+Fluency programs ran for 22 weeks. Multilevel modeling showed that the combi...
First graders (N = 323) participated in an evidence-based classwide reading program (Peer-Assiste... more First graders (N = 323) participated in an evidence-based classwide reading program (Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies; PALS). Adual-discrepancy approach was used to identify 56 children whose reading performance and growth rates were substantially below those of average readers, indicating they were not responding sufficiently to PALS. This approach reliably distinguished among unresponsive at-risk, responsive at-risk, and average-performing readers. Nonresponders were assigned randomly to one of three increasingly individualized treatments: PALS, Modified PALS, or tutoring by an adult. No statistically significant between-group differences on reading-related measures were found. Effect sizes (between .30 and .50) comparing groups and proportions of nonresponders following treatment suggest that tutoring was most promising for reducing unresponsiveness.
The purpose of this article is to describe downward and upward extensions of Peer-Assisted Learni... more The purpose of this article is to describe downward and upward extensions of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) in reading, which was originally developed for Grades 2-6. Extensions have occurred for kindergarten, first grade, and high school. We begin by describing our rationale for the development of PALS. Then we provide an overview of the Grades 2-6 PALS program and illustrate why additional PALS activities were required to address younger and older students' developmental needs. Finally, we describe the PALS extensions.
Journal of Cognitive Education and Psychology, 2007
This paper provides on overview of the classwide peer-tutoring strategy known as Peer-Assisted Le... more This paper provides on overview of the classwide peer-tutoring strategy known as Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) for reading. Specific activities and research supporting PALS for Kindergarten, First Grade, Grades 2 through 6, and High School are described. Then, research addressing the characteristics of students who have not responded to PALS, as well as approaches to identification and further intervention for PALS nonresponders, is summarized. Current efforts to examine PALS when taken “to scale” are briefly described followed by ways to obtain PALS materials and training.
This study determined the effectiveness of Kindergarten Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (K-PALS... more This study determined the effectiveness of Kindergarten Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (K-PALS) for students with disabilities. The researchers randomly assigned 89 kindergartners with individualized education programs (IEPs) from 47 classrooms to control (n = 9); K-PALS Level 1 (teachers received 1-day workshop; n = 19); or K-PALS Level 2 ( teachers received workshop plus booster sessions; n = 19). Multivariate analysis of covariance on posttest measures of beginning reading skills indicated that K-PALS students outperformed controls on alphabetic and oral reading measures, but that no reliable between-group differences were attributable to level of support. The researchers also discuss directions for further research and implications for implementing classroom-based reading interventions for students with disabilities.
Abstract. The purpose of this study was to examine technical features of new and existing curricu... more Abstract. The purpose of this study was to examine technical features of new and existing curriculum-based measures of written expression in terms of writing task, duration, and scoring procedures. Twenty-five third-, 43 fifth-, and 55 seventhgraders completed ...
Assessment for Effective Intervention, Jul 1, 2002
During the past 20 years, researchers have identified core deficits of struggling readers and dev... more During the past 20 years, researchers have identified core deficits of struggling readers and developed treatments that prevent reading failure. However, whereas progress has been made toward designing generally effective reading interventions, not all children respond to these treatments. Such students have been dubbed "nonresponders," and are the current focus of a growing body of research. Because nonresponsiveness to generally effective instruction is a relatively new issue, researchers have yet to agree on how to identify nonresponders. The purpose of this article is to propose a "dual-discrepancy" approach to identifying such children. A rationale for such an approach is given. Then, curriculum-based measurement is suggested as an effective tool for detecting dual discrepancies. An example is provided from an ongoing program of research that uses the dual-discrepancy approach to identify nonresponders.
We attempted to strengthen an evidence-based, peer-mediated, first-grade reading program (First G... more We attempted to strengthen an evidence-based, peer-mediated, first-grade reading program (First Grade Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies [PALS]) by modestly revising its content and adding a repeated-reading (RR) component. In a cluster-randomized trial, we conducted a component analysis of the revised program by creating two versions of it. “PALS+Fluency” represented the modified program with an RR component, whereas “PALS-Only” represented the same program without RR. We tested the efficacy of the two PALS versions together against controls and against each other to determine if peer-mediated RR had “value added.” With moderator analyses, we further explored whether the PALS programs benefited weaker and stronger readers alike. Thirty-three first-grade classroom teachers (and 491 students) from eight urban schools were randomly assigned to the three study groups within their schools. The PALS-Only and PALS+Fluency programs ran for 22 weeks. Multilevel modeling showed that the combi...
First graders (N = 323) participated in an evidence-based classwide reading program (Peer-Assiste... more First graders (N = 323) participated in an evidence-based classwide reading program (Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies; PALS). Adual-discrepancy approach was used to identify 56 children whose reading performance and growth rates were substantially below those of average readers, indicating they were not responding sufficiently to PALS. This approach reliably distinguished among unresponsive at-risk, responsive at-risk, and average-performing readers. Nonresponders were assigned randomly to one of three increasingly individualized treatments: PALS, Modified PALS, or tutoring by an adult. No statistically significant between-group differences on reading-related measures were found. Effect sizes (between .30 and .50) comparing groups and proportions of nonresponders following treatment suggest that tutoring was most promising for reducing unresponsiveness.
The purpose of this article is to describe downward and upward extensions of Peer-Assisted Learni... more The purpose of this article is to describe downward and upward extensions of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) in reading, which was originally developed for Grades 2-6. Extensions have occurred for kindergarten, first grade, and high school. We begin by describing our rationale for the development of PALS. Then we provide an overview of the Grades 2-6 PALS program and illustrate why additional PALS activities were required to address younger and older students' developmental needs. Finally, we describe the PALS extensions.
Journal of Cognitive Education and Psychology, 2007
This paper provides on overview of the classwide peer-tutoring strategy known as Peer-Assisted Le... more This paper provides on overview of the classwide peer-tutoring strategy known as Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) for reading. Specific activities and research supporting PALS for Kindergarten, First Grade, Grades 2 through 6, and High School are described. Then, research addressing the characteristics of students who have not responded to PALS, as well as approaches to identification and further intervention for PALS nonresponders, is summarized. Current efforts to examine PALS when taken “to scale” are briefly described followed by ways to obtain PALS materials and training.
This study determined the effectiveness of Kindergarten Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (K-PALS... more This study determined the effectiveness of Kindergarten Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (K-PALS) for students with disabilities. The researchers randomly assigned 89 kindergartners with individualized education programs (IEPs) from 47 classrooms to control (n = 9); K-PALS Level 1 (teachers received 1-day workshop; n = 19); or K-PALS Level 2 ( teachers received workshop plus booster sessions; n = 19). Multivariate analysis of covariance on posttest measures of beginning reading skills indicated that K-PALS students outperformed controls on alphabetic and oral reading measures, but that no reliable between-group differences were attributable to level of support. The researchers also discuss directions for further research and implications for implementing classroom-based reading interventions for students with disabilities.
Abstract. The purpose of this study was to examine technical features of new and existing curricu... more Abstract. The purpose of this study was to examine technical features of new and existing curriculum-based measures of written expression in terms of writing task, duration, and scoring procedures. Twenty-five third-, 43 fifth-, and 55 seventhgraders completed ...
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