Document Type

Graduate Project

Date of Degree Completion

Summer 2005

Degree Name

Master of Education (MEd)

Department

Education

Committee Chair

Lee A. Plourde

Second Committee Member

Alberta J. Thyfault

Third Committee Member

Daniel C. Fennerty

Abstract

Following the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Initiative in 2002, educators were faced with new obstacles never before experienced. Reading levels were at an all time low with nearly 70% of inner city fourth graders unable to read at a basic level on national reading tests. Because reading is the backbone of all academic areas, struggling readers need much more consideration and attention than they have needed before. The five main components of an effective reading program that are focused on in this project are vocabulary, phonics, phonemic awareness, comprehension and fluency. This toolkit contains assessments and strategies and was developed to provide professionals the assessment process and the strategies to assist the emergent reader, providing them with meaningful and helpful strategies. The assessments were chosen on their professional merits as well as user-friendly accessibility for the test administrator and ranged from personal communication to standardized assessment measures. The strategies included in the toolbox are representative of the five components of reading deemed essential to student success by the No Child Left Behind Initiative, 2002.

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