Lesaux and her mentee Perla Gámez will examine the link between the language teachers use in classrooms and middle school students’ reading comprehension. A unique feature of this research project is its focus on understanding how a classroom intervention targeted at improving student’s literacy skills and opportunities for dialogue might influence the quality of teachers’ language and communication with students. The study will utilize videotaped sessions of classrooms from 13 schools that are participating in a large-scale experimental evaluation of the literacy intervention, which has been supported by Lesaux’s William T. Grant Scholar award. Analyses will consider whether changes in teachers’ language are related to growth in students’ reading comprehension. The award provides Gámez with support to pursue a program of research consistent with the Foundation’s interests.
What is the link between the language teachers use in classrooms and middle school students’ reading comprehension?
