Who Is Reading? Demographic Predictors of Reading Rate and Comprehension in Second Grade

• In Event: 14.046 - Poster Session 1
  In Poster Session: 14.046-8 - Research in Reading and Literacy SIG V

Abstract

This study explores the differential results of oral reading rate assessments based on demographic factors. Using hierarchical regression, this study models the contributions of orthographic knowledge and gender, race, and ELL status to reading rate and comprehension for a large, state-wide sample of children in second grade (n=25, 676). Results indicate that once orthographic knowledge was entered, demographic factors added only a small amount (1%) to the models’ explanatory power. Reading rate and demographic factors together accounted for a small amount (less than 4%) of the variance in reading comprehension. These findings indicate that demographic differences in reading rates may be potentially remediated with word knowledge instruction and may not be indicative of differences in reading comprehension.

Author

• Laura Tortorelli, Michigan State University