Off-campus UMass Amherst users: To download dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your UMass Amherst user name and password.
Non-UMass Amherst users, please click the view more button below to purchase a copy of this dissertation from Proquest.
(Some titles may also be available free of charge in our Open Access Dissertation Collection, so please check there first.)
An exploration of approaches for teaching reading to elementary Hispanic students in a west Massachusetts school district
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge that bilingual teachers possess in the teaching of reading in terms of skills, methods, and strategies. For this study, forty-five teachers were selected from the Bilingual Program of a West Massachusetts school district. A questionnaire concerning methods, techniques, and strategies used to teach reading was administered in order to compile the data. Said instrument was prepared by the investigator and validated by education specialists. Next, the compilation of data proceeded with an analysis of the backgrounds of the teachers themselves. It was found that no significant relationship exists between the knowledge these teachers possess and other variables such as sex, residential zone, certification possessed, academic preparation, number of students, methods used for teaching reading, amount of training received, years of experience in the system, grade taught, type of contract possessed, or years of experience in that grade, On the other hand, it was concluded that a significant relationship does exist between the knowledge that the teachers possess about certain methods for teaching reading and their annual salaries. It was found that the teachers who received larger salaries had more knowledge of the methods of teaching reading. Following analysis of the data and the conclusions found it is recommended that: (1) A similar study be completed using the students of the Bilingual Program, using the different methods, techniques, and strategies for teaching reading. (2) A study be done using the two previous studies as a basis; involving both the teachers and students as subjects. (3) A study be done of monolingual teachers to assess their knowledge, techniques, and strategies for teaching reading.
Subject Area
Multicultural Education
Recommended Citation
Barreto, Maria del Carmen, "An exploration of approaches for teaching reading to elementary Hispanic students in a west Massachusetts school district" (1992). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9233031.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9233031