The impact of a school’s literacy program on a primary classroom

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how my reading instruction had been situated within my school’s literacy program. As a way to investigate this study, I employed qualitative teacher research. I used reading theory (Whole Language and Direct Instruction) as the analytical lens for my analysis. The results illustrated how the Direct Instruction aspects of the literacy program permeated into my classroom, altered my teaching practices, and impacted student learning. While there were both positives and negatives to the instructional techniques, teacher and student choice was limited.

Keywords: Teacher research, reading theory, Whole Language, Direct Instruction, reading instruction, literacy program, guided reading, running records, reading levels