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Diving certificate:
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Teachers in grades 3 to 8 reported that almost half (44%) of their students always or almost always have difficulty reading their written classroom materials. This is according to a Rand Corporation report published on Thursday.
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However, 40% of teachers surveyed had misconceptions about how students develop their reading skills, and 46% said they derived their knowledge about reading instruction primarily from personal experiences in the classroom.
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Only 22% cited professional development as their primary source of reading instruction, and even fewer (10%) cited other teachers and mentors.
Diving insight:
The nationally representative survey results are based on responses from 1,483 teachers between October and November 2023. Respondents had misconceptions about basic reading skills when they agreed with statements that most students “learn to read on their own if given the right books and time to read,” or “can understand written texts with unfamiliar words even if they do not have a good command of phonics,” or that phonics instruction is not helpful for those who have difficulty learning to read.
Most teachers reported that they adjusted their instruction at least once per week to support students, and over half reported that they adjusted their instruction three or more times per week. However, most teachers also report that they do not have enough resources to support students who struggle with reading.
However, middle school teachers are less likely than elementary school teachers to report having access to resources and training to support struggling readers, including adequate staff, referrals for digital materials, reading specialists, tutors, and training.
This is despite the fact that middle school teachers report that 42% of their students – or almost as many as elementary school students – always or almost always have difficulty reading their learning material.
“In short, our findings suggest that elementary and middle school teachers who teach both ELA (English Language and Literature) and other subjects need evidence-based support to improve their students’ reading skills, given the high proportion of their students who struggle with reading,” the report’s authors wrote.
According to a American Teaching Resources Survey 2023published by Rand, between one-third and one-half of teachers in upper elementary and middle school grades engaged their students in activities designed to teach basic reading skills.
Most state laws are not designed to address or support older readers. In fact, according to the 2023 AIRS survey, only a quarter of states with reading laws include requirements for ELA instruction in secondary grades.
However, in the report released Wednesday, researchers point out that children still need reading support after elementary school – when basic reading skills are traditionally most encouraged – and that “reforming reading instruction in the United States” will likely require that resources be targeted at older students as well.
According to the results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress 2022a national litmus test of student achievement in reading and math, only 33% of fourth graders and 31% of eighth graders scored at NAEP level or better on the reading test.
There were declines in reading performance compared to pre-pandemic NAEP scores that, while less significant than in math, were seen in both fourth and eighth grades.
