Talk It Out - Second Grade Reading Comprehension Intervention (2015)

Undergraduate: Allison White

Faculty Advisor: Patrick Akos
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Many reading difficulties begin to become prominent during the second grade. At this point students are transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn. However, a large portion of reading comprehension interventions focus on third grade proficiency because many states implement standardized assessments during the third grade. The proposed intervention plan will explore a reciprocal learning and metacognitive learning strategies at the second grade level. Reciprocal learning is the practice of students engaging in learning together and taking on the role of teaching in small groups. Metacognitive strategies build upon the understanding of one¿¿¿s own thoughts and knowledge. I predict that this intervention plan will help students critically think about what they are reading rather than merely identify words. Both strategies build upon the idea that discussing readings and reading out loud will increase comprehension. Previous researchers have studied similar intervention plans with third grade students, but there is little research regarding second grade students specifically. This intervention plan will be implemented in a second grade classroom with students who were identified by the teacher as struggling with reading comprehension.