Literacy Instruction
Below are teacher measures of instructional practice in language arts developed by Correnti and Rowan (2007) using SII teacher log data. Generally, log data have been analyzed by SII researchers using three-level hierarchical linear models that nest multiple log reports within teachers within schools (see an example here).
It may interest readers to view the log instrument protocols filled out by teachers (here) and to review the glossaries (here) explaining SII terminology adopted for the instruments. Log data files for both language arts and mathematics are available for download here. Although the log data files contain many of the variables necessary for critical data reduction, researchers may observe the syntax to replicate the process here.
Table 1: Word Analysis Measures
Measures | Components | Log Item |
---|---|---|
Letter–sound relationships | letter-sound relationships | C1a |
Counting the number of sounds in a word | C1b | |
sound spelling/invented spelling/developmental spelling | C1c | |
segmenting a part of the word | C1d | |
other segmenting tasks | C1e | |
blending initial sounds with a rhyming word (onset-rime) | C1f | |
blending individual phonemes into real words | C1g | |
blending phonemes into nonsense words | C1h | |
blending syllables | C1i | |
other blending tasks | C1j | |
Sight words | word recognition, sight words | C1k |
Use picture/context cues | use of context, picture, and/or sentence meaning and structure to read words | C1m |
Use phonics cues | use of phonics-based or letter-sound relationships to read words in sentences or stories | C1n |
Structural analysis | structural analysis, examining word families, prefixes, suffixes, contractions, etc. | C1l |
Assess Student Ability | I listened to the target student read | C4a |
I took running records or conducted a miscue analysis | C4b | |
I administered a word analysis test | C4c | |
Teacher Directed Instruction | I corrected the student’s errors or modeled the correct answer | C3a |
I prompted the student to use the context (other words in sentence, pictures, what they already know) to read the word | C3c | |
I gave oral cues – sounding out parts of the word for them | C3d | |
Focus on Comprehension | Percent of word analysis lessons reading comprehension was also a focus | 4a |
Focus on Writing | Percent of word analysis lessons writing was also a focus | 4b |
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Table 2: Reading Comprehension Measures
Measures | Components | Log Item |
---|---|---|
Activate knowledge | Activating prior knowledge or making personal connections to text | A1a |
Making predictions, previewing or Surveying | A1b | |
Literal comprehension | Answering questions that have answers directly stated in the text | A1j |
Answering questions that require inferences | A1k | |
Explaining how to find answers or information | A1l | |
Story structure | Using concept maps, story maps or text structure frames | A1i |
Sequencing information or events | A1m | |
Identifying story structure | A1n | |
Summarizing important details | A1q | |
Analyze/ synthesize | Comparing and/or contrasting information or texts | A1p |
Analyzing and evaluating text | A1r | |
Brief answers | Answered brief oral questions | A3a |
Answered multiple choice questions | A3e | |
Completed sentences filling in blanks | A3f | |
Wrote brief answers to questions | A3h | |
Students discuss text | Discussed text with peers | A3b |
Did a think-aloud or explained how they applied a skill or strategy | A3c | |
Generated questions about text | A3d | |
Extended answers | Wrote extensive answers to questions | A3i |
Worked on a literature extension project | A3j | |
Teacher directed instruction | Teacher demonstrated or explained a skill | A4a |
Teacher demonstrated or explained how to use a reading strategy | A4b | |
Teacher explained why or when to use a reading strategy | A4c | |
Integrate writing | examining literary techniques or author’s style | A1s |
written literature extension project | A1t | |
examined literary techniques or author’s style in writing | B1c | |
teacher explained how to write, organize ideas, revise or edit using a published author’s writing | B3c | |
Focus on Writing | Percent of reading comprehension lessons where writing was also a focus | 4b |
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Table 3: Writing Measures
Measures | Components | Log Item |
---|---|---|
Pre-Writing | generating ideas for writing | B1a |
organizing ideas for writing | B1b | |
Writing Practice | writing practice | B1e |
Revise writing | revision of writing-elaboration | B1f |
revision of writing-refining or re-organizing | B1g | |
Edit writing | editing capitals, punctuation, or spelling | B1h |
editing word use, grammar or syntax | B1i | |
Share writing | sharing writing with others | B1j |
Literary techniques /genre study | literary techniques or author’s style | B1c |
writing forms or genres (e.g. letter, drama, editorial, Haiku) | B1d | |
Teacher comments on writing | I commented on what the student wrote not how | B3f |
I described what the student did well in his/her writing | B3g | |
Teacher directed instruction | I demonstrated or did a think-aloud using my own writing | B3a |
I explained how to write, organize ideas, revise or edit using st. writing | B3b | |
I explained how to write, organize ideas, revise or edit using a published author’s writing | B3c | |
I led the student and his/her peers in a group composition | B3e | |
I commented on how the student could improve his/her writing | B3h | |
Focus on Comprehension | Percent of writing lessons where reading comprehension was also a focus | 4a |
Integrate Comprehension | examining literary techniques or author’s style | A1s |
written literature extension project | A1t | |
wrote extensive answers to questions | A3i | |
worked on a literature extension project | A3j | |
Write words | student’s writing consisted of letter strings or words | B2a |
Separate sentences | student’s writing consisted of separate sentences | B2b |
Separate paragraph | student’s writing consisted of a single paragraph | B2c |
Connected paragraphs | student’s writing consisted of connected paragraphs | B2d |
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