Small Steps to Big Gains in Reading Comprehension With Fourth- to Sixth-Grade Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners

• In Event: Leveraging Home-Language Literacies in the Education of Emergent Bilinguals

Abstract

Spanish speaking English language learners are at-risk for school failure. One of the challenges for these children is content area reading comprehension Structure strategy instruction on the Web for English Language Learners (SWELL) is an extension to a successful web-based tutoring system for the structure strategy (ITSS) designed to teach children how to use text structure to read and comprehend text. In this paper we report on two pilot studies conducted to assess the usability of the system as well as information on what profiles of learners were able to use the adaptations effectively. Results were positive and modifications based on the results will be discussed.

Authors

• Kausalai K. Wijekumar, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Bonnie J. F. Meyer, The Pennsylvania State University

• Pui-Wa Lei, The Pennsylvania State University