Balanced Literacy and its Impact on the Reading Development of African American Students

Author

Kelley E. Odipo, University of the PacificFollow

Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Dissertation - Pacific Access Restricted

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Department

Learning, Leadership and Change

First Advisor

Thomas Nelson

First Committee Member

Rod P. Githens

Second Committee Member

Larry Boese

Third Committee Member

Martin Martinez

Abstract

This study represents findings of a case study focused on the connections between balanced literacy and the reading development of African American students in first and second grade. Utilizing a conceptual framework of culturally relevant pedagogy, this study investigated: (a) the ways in which teachers understood and implemented balanced literacy; (b) the role culturally relevant pedagogy played in balanced literacy instruction; and (c) how teachers utilized balanced literacy to support the reading development of African American students. Data from multiple observations of instruction and interviews resulted in the identification of three factors that contributed to the implementation of balanced literacy and the reading development of African American students – a sense of community, emphasis on reading strategies to decipher unknown words, and assessment as a tool to guide instruction and gain a deeper understanding of students’ reading ability. The findings of this study build on current literature and also contribute to new knowledge of the factors that play a role in developing the reading abilities of African American children.

Pages

127

Recommended Citation

Odipo, Kelley E.. (2018). Balanced Literacy and its Impact on the Reading Development of African American Students. University of the Pacific, Dissertation - Pacific Access Restricted. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/3558