Reading comprehension and reading motivation are strongly related. The current study explored the relation between groups of students with different reading profiles (poor decoders, poor comprehenders, good readers, difficulties with both decoding and comprehension -- mixed deficit) and key dimensions of motivation. We assessed 120 students (2nd…

The present study examined whether syntactic comprehension constitutes a source of individual differences separate from vocabulary and of relevance to reading comprehension. One hundred and sixty-one Danish Grade 6 students completed multiple tests of syntactic comprehension, vocabulary, decoding, and reading comprehension. Syntax measures were…

This single case study examined the effects of segmented and connected phonation decoding training on improving word reading accuracy for three first-grade students who demonstrated challenges with accurate word reading and decoding skills. Visual analysis and single-case effect size calculations indicate students improved their correctly read…

Many children speak language varieties (dialects), such as African American English (AAE) that differ from the language variety typically used in academic settings and in literacy instruction (Mainstream American English, MAE). There has been considerable work suggesting a negative correlation between use of a non-mainstream dialect and lower…

The fundamental significance of literacy achievement cannot be overstated. However, the 2022 National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) divulges alarming findings, with a mere 33 percent of the nation's fourth graders performing at or above proficiency in reading (NAEP, 2022). Exploring the nexus of research-informed pedagogy and practice…

It is well established that children's reading comprehension is driven, at least in part, by their awareness of morphemes, or the smallest units of meaning in language. The question of how it does so is largely open; this mechanistic knowledge would specify theories of reading comprehension and guide effective classroom instruction. We report here…

This study examined the heterogeneity of early literacy profiles of English learners and non-English learners. Utilizing a latent profile analysis, the degree to which distinct learner profiles emerged was examined using code-based and language-based measures administered in the beginning of first grade. Participants included 11,803 English…

Purpose: Although the knowledge of decoding acquisition has expanded in the past years, theoretical information is still needed to guide practices concerning decoding skills in clinical and educational scenarios in languages other than English. Thus, we aimed to investigate the word-length effects on decoding acquisition regarding the time spent…

Background: We investigated how the language of schooling (French vs. Italian) and linguistic status [monolinguals vs. language-minority bilingual children (LMBC)] interact with the main dimensions of the simple view of reading (SVR), namely, decoding (D) and listening comprehension (LC). Method: We examined 265 children [French: n = 113; Italian:…

Students with dyslexia and related reading difficulties can benefit from explicit, systematic morphology instruction for decoding and understanding multisyllabic words. When studying morphemes, students learn to identify, spell, and define prefixes, suffixes, and roots, simultaneously addressing both word recognition and language comprehension.…

Reading acquisition in Arabic presents unique challenges, notably due to its complex morphological structure and the diglossic nature of the language. The discrepancy between written (Modern Standard) and spoken Arabic poses significant barriers for learners, particularly in decoding morphologically complex words. This study explored the role of…

This study examined the unified model of phonological transfer in English reading comprehension and the mediating effects of bilingual decoding skills. Grade 4 Chinese Mandarin learners of English (N = 256) completed a series of tests including tone and stress sensitivity, Chinese and English segmental phonological awareness, Chinese and English…

High-quality decodable books enhance literacy by providing children with focused practice opportunities to break down sounds they have learned and apply their decoding skills. Just Right Reader (JRR) hired LXD Research to measure its impact during a pilot study in the Spring of 2024 to determine the effect of their decodable books on literacy…

Two recent computational models of reading development propose that irregular words are read using a combination of decoding and lexical knowledge but differ in assumptions about how these sources of information interact and about the relative importance of different aspects of lexical knowledge. We report developmental data that help to…

Background: South Africa's PIRLS 2021 outcomes revealed that learners struggle with comprehension. The reasons for poor reading need to be identified and addressed to stem this challenge. Aim: This study assessed Sesotho Grade 4 learners' knowledge of simple and complex letter sounds, their oral reading fluency and the relationship to their oral…