Corrective reading

Abstract

"Corrective Reading" is designed to promote reading accuracy (decoding), fluency, and comprehension skills of students in grades 4-12 who are reading below their grade level. The program includes four sequential levels that address students' decoding skills and six sequential levels that address students' comprehension skills. The levels are designed to target students who need assistance with particular types of reading skills based on the results of "Corrective Reading" placement tests (see the Teaching section for more details on the different levels). The decoding and comprehension components can be used separately as a supplemental reading intervention or combined for use as a reading intervention curriculum. All lessons in the program are sequenced and scripted. "Corrective Reading" can be implemented in small groups of four to five students or in a whole-class format. "Corrective Reading" is intended to be taught in 45-minute lessons four to five times a week. The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviewed 129 studies on "Corrective Reading" for adolescent learners. One of these studies meets WWC evidence standards; the remaining 128 studies do not meet either WWC evidence standards or eligibility screens. Based on one study, the WWC found no discernible effects on alphabetics, reading fluency, or comprehension for adolescent learners. The conclusions presented in this report may change as new research emerges. Appendices include: (1) Study characteristics: Torgesen et al. (2006); (2) Outcome measures; (3) Summary of study findings included in the ratings; (4) Summary of follow-up findings; (5) "Corrective Reading" ratings; and (6) Extent of evidence by domain. (Contains 10 footnotes.)