Keywords

Reading coach, literacy coach, student achievement, reading achievement, elementary

Abstract

The focus of this research was to investigate and clarify the daily work lives of elementary reading coaches in central Florida by studying their background, academic and professional experiences. The beliefs and perceptions of the reading coaches on factors that influence reading achievement were examined. The responses from 96 participating elementary reading coaches were used to investigate (a) the relationship between demographic information, professional experiences, and academic background of the reading coach, (b) the percentage of time reading coaches engaged in specific coaching activities, and (c) the linkage between coaching activities and change in the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test developmental scale scores. Data from a web-based survey and personal interviews were used to collect pertinent data to understand the daily work lives of the elementary reading coaches and bring awareness to perceptions, successes and hindrances to the role and the impact on reading achievement. Descriptive statistics were used to present demographic, professional and academic information about the reading coaches. Multiple regression analyses were performed using time allocated to coaching activities and the change in reading achievement to determine existing relationships. Developmental scale score change was examined from the baseline year to the third year. Qualitative analyses were used to determine reading coach themes from the survey responses. Participant profiles, calling on the tenets of case study methodology, were developed based on the triangulated data. Narrative descriptions of coaching data for the participant profiles were organized by years of teaching experience of the reading coach. ii The results of the study indicated that reading coaches perceived coach-teacher collaboration to be the most influential activity affecting reading achievement. This perception was not congruent with finding of time spent and change on reading achievement. Recommendations were presented including a formalized understanding of the daily work lives of reading coaches by school districts, administrators and the reading coaches themselves.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2012

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Wegmann, Susan

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

College

College of Education and Human Performance

Degree Program

Education

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0004286

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0004286

Language

English

Release Date

May 2012

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Education, Education -- Dissertations, Academic

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