Date of Award

Spring 2018

Document Type

Master's Project

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

STEM Education & Professional Studies

Program/Concentration

Occupational and Technical Studies

Committee Director

Karina Arcaute

Committee Member

Philip Reed

Committee Member

John Ritz

Abstract

This study examined the use of colored overlay on reading abilities of students with reading deficits in the 5th grade at Lebanon Elementary School during the 2013-2014 school year. This study was guided by the previous research of which has shown that the use of colored overlay increases the reading abilities of students challenged by their reading deficits. The study was a quasi-experimental quantitative pilot research that compared the reading level before and after colored overlay paper was placed over reading passages in a sample size of six 5th grade students. These students were between nine and eleven years of age, white males and over 80% of them were from coal mining families and considered low-income.

Results from this pilot study indicate that there is a difference in students’ reading achievement when using colored overlay paper in reading exercises. A 12.5% improvement in reading scores grade was found when using colored overlay. Although there is a noticeable instantaneous improvement in reading scores and comprehension when using colored overlay paper in students with reading deficits, there is still a need for experimentation with a larger and more varied group of students, as this pilot study was limited to six students in the 5th grade.

Comments

A Research Study Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of: MASTER OF SCIENCE OCCUPATONAL AND TECHNICAL STUDIES

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