Exploring Reading Material Preference on Literacy Achievement in Elementary School Grades

Child reading book.

Students will explore improving literacy achievement with elementary school students using preferred reading material in a private elementary school in Buffalo, NY.

Project description

This project will provide students the opportunity to provide literacy intervention to elementary school-aged children at a local Buffalo private school. The literacy intervention program will be provided for students to implement with children at the local school with a goal of improving reading achievement. Students will also be trained to assess literacy engagement. This project will allow students the opportunity to be part of a literacy research project, learn literacy intervention, and develop skills working with school-aged children in a school setting, all skills that can be used in many facets of the education profession. 

Project outcome

Students will complete literacy engagement assessments to determine participant reading interests. Each student will work with an assigned 2-4 participants for a 9-week duration providing a prescribed reading intervention to determine the impact on reading achievement. Results will be analyzed by mentor to produce a deliverable that supports the organization’s missions and goals.

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment About a semester (3-5 months)
Start time
Spring (January/February)
Other: end of February/beginning of March 
Level of collaboration Each student will work with 2-4 student participants.
Benefits Opportunity to learn literacy intervention; opportunity to obtain school-based experience; volunteer within the occupational therapy field with a faculty mentor; earn academic credit
Who is eligible
Juniors and seniors 

Core partners

  • Rehabilitation Sciences Department 
  • Occupational Therapy Program

Project mentor

Turquessa Francis

Clinical Assistant Professor

Rehabilitation Sciences Department

Phone: (716) 829-6291

Email: tpgreen@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
Start the Digital Badge

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

  1. Review Literacy and the Role of Occupational Therapy PowerPoint
  2. Complete Reading Rockets training here and
    • Complete these course modules:
      • Print Awareness
      • Phonological and Phenomic Awareness
      • Phonics
      • Fluency
      • Vocabulary
      • Spelling
      • Comprehension
      • Writing
      • Assessment
    • Complete the following portions in the above modules:
      • Named module
      • Pre-test questions
      • In-depth review
      • In practice
      • Review assignment strategies
    • After 9 modules have been completed as stated above, download the Letter of Completion and sign indicating that the training has been finished.
  3. Complete CITI Training here
    • Register for a CITI Account here, and follow these instructions:
      • Type: University at Buffalo
      • Choose University at Buffalo
      • Agree to terms
      • Continue with registration process
      • An email will be sent 1-2 days later from the UB research department providing registration information
    • When account has been approved, login with username and password.
    • Complete the following Courses (all courses are good for 3 years and can be used to meet research requirements for other research endeavors):
      • Conflict of interest
      • Human Research Curriculum, Social and Behavioral Research Investigators Basic Course
      • Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Course Basic

 

Keywords

Rehabilitation Sciences