A1 Journal article (refereed)
Special Education Teachers’ Identification of Students’ Reading Difficulties in Grade 6 (2020)

Virinkoski, Riitta; Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina; Eklund, Kenneth; Aro, Mikko (2020). Special Education Teachers’ Identification of Students’ Reading Difficulties in Grade 6. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, Early online. DOI: 10.1080/00313831.2020.1833241

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Publication details

All authors or editors: Virinkoski, Riitta; Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina; Eklund, Kenneth; Aro, Mikko

Journal or series: Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research

ISSN: 0031-3831

eISSN: 1470-1170

Publication year: 2020

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2020.1833241

Open Access: Open access publication published in a hybrid channel

Publication channel open access:

Publication open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/72403

Abstract

his study investigated special educational needs (SEN) teachers’ (n = 29) assessment practices and the accuracy of their ratings of the students’ (M age = 12.75 years, n = 55) skill levels in reading fluency and reading comprehension. Teachers rated their sixth grade students’ fluency and comprehension on a three-point scale, and the students were also tested in group tests. Results showed that SEN teachers used several assessment practices simultaneously but mostly relied on observations. The correlations between the teacher ratings and the test scores were significant but moderate in fluency and weak in comprehension. Only two thirds of low-performing students having difficulties in fluency or comprehension were identified. Additionally, identification of students with typical reading comprehension was inaccurate.

Keywords: reading disorders; reading; fluency; reading comprehension; evaluation; recognition; special education (teaching); special needs teachers

Free keywords: reading difficulties; reading fluency; reading comprehension; special education teachers; sensitivity; specificity

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Preliminary JUFO rating: 2