Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Award Winner
Recipient of the 1992 Outstanding Master's Thesis Award - Third Place.
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Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Reading (Elementary); Reading comprehension--Evaluation;
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to document the implementation of naturalistic evaluations of reading comprehension, specifically, the comprehension abilities of first-grade students in a Chapter 1 reading program. There were five major questions which guided the study: (a) How will naturalistic evaluations assess students' reading comprehension abilities in a Chapter 1 classroom? (b) What problems does a Chapter 1 teacher encounter when implementing naturalistic forms of evaluation? (c) Given special consideration to time and management, how can naturalistic devices be used in a Chapter 1 reading program? ( d) How will a Chapter 1 teacher be able to use the information provided by these types of evaluations for improving instruction? (e) Will portfolios provide an evaluation form which is understandable for students, parents, and classroom teachers?
Naturalistic evaluations were found to be effective tools for measuring student comprehension abilities. While running records, retellings, and self-evaluations were useful in yielding sufficient information to be used when planning instruction, observation sheets and journal entries were less effective. Preparing and implementing the evaluations was time consuming as it involved determining appropriate assessments, recording observations, and scoring retellings and running records. However, during the semester, these evaluations became more routine and a natural part of the Chapter 1 program. Parents, students, and teachers responded positively to the evaluations used in this study. Their comments indicated that they found the information beneficial for understanding student abilities.
Further research documenting the use of naturalistic forms of evaluation is recommended. Practical studies are needed to aid educators in other teaching situations in constructing, implementing, and evaluating student growth through naturalistic evaluations.
Year of Submission
1991
Year of Award
1992 Award
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Education
Department
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
First Advisor
Jeannie L. Steele, Chair, Thesis Committee
Date Original
8-1991
Object Description
1 PDF file (iv, 92 pages)
Copyright
©1991 Beth Ann Hardy Nordmeyer
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Nordmeyer, Beth Ann Hardy, "The implementation of naturalistic evaluation of reading comprehension: A descriptive study of first graders in a Chapter 1 reading program" (1991). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 698.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/698
Comments
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