Action Research Project:

nd
2 Grade
Authors Purpose
Rachael Celia

The Question
What are effective strategies for improving understanding
of authors purpose?

Initial Information
Student C
High achieving student reading very
fluently.

No prior testing available

Very talkative.

Student B
Reading very well and fairly
fluently.

Scored 6/7 on the Fauntas and

Pinnell reading test.

Best Practices

Monitor Comprehension
Metacognition
Graphic and Semantic Organizers
Answering Questions
Generating Questions

Recognizing Story Structure

Summarizing (Adler, n.d.)

Question
Reflect (Identify Authors Purpose, 2014)
Use a Variety of Assessment Techniques
to Inform Instruction

Use Multiple Texts (Bluiett, n.d.)

Assessments and Literature Used

Fountas and Pinnell

Reading Interest Inventory (Wokanick, n.d.)
Garfield Interest Survey (Kear, Coffman, McKenna & Ambrosio, 2000)
Benchmark Passage Quick Check Level I
Benchmark Passage Quick Check Level K
Benchmark Passage Running Record Level K (Reading A-Z, n.d.)
Concepts of Comprehension Question Sheets (Authors Purpose, n.d.)

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaula

Earrings By Judith Viorst
The Great Zoo Escape Reading A-Z Level K
Dark Night on the Water Reading A-Z Level I (Reading A-Z, n.d.)
Becoming Expert Readers
Banning Junk Food
Recess
A Lion in the Bedroom
Bare Bones

A Day to Celebrate Earth

Give Thanks

(Authors Purpose, n.d.)

The Data

Student

Assessment

Score

Reading Interest Inventory

She enjoys reading and reads at home with her mom, she doesnt like superheroes, but loves pretty much every other

Reading Interest Inventory

she likes to read, but doesnt read at home with her parents. She likes pretty much every genre of book. Doesnt like to
read out loud.

Garfield Interest Survey

98 raw score, 88 percentile

Garfield Interest Survey

99 raw score, 89 percentile

Benchmark Passage Quick Check

3/3 correct

Benchmark Passage Quick Check

2/3 correct

Benchmark Passage Quick Check

5/5 correct

Benchmark Passage Running Record

WCPM 95; Error Rate 1:24 Accuracy Rate: 96% Self-Correction Rate 1:1

Independent Practice Worksheet

Found limited evidence from the text, and was able to identify purpose of persuasion.

Independent Practice Worksheet

Was able to find identify evidence of persuasion from the text only after group discussion and assistance from the teacher.

Number of cards correct

5/7

Number of cards correct

4/8

Question Sheets

5/5

Question Sheets

3/5

Number of cards correct

6/6

Number of cards correct

5/6

Reflection
What to improve on:

What I did well:

Consistency
Time limitations
Data
Assessment Levels

Meeting the Goal

Engagement
Variety
Adapting

References
Adler, C. (n.d.). Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehension. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
Author's Purpose 2nd Grade Unit. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2014, from
www.readworks.org/lessons/grade2/authors-purpose
Bluiett, T. (n.d.). Best Practices in Litracy Instruction. Retrieved October 10, 2014.

Identify Authors Purpose: Why Did the Author Write the Selection? (2014, January 1). Retrieved November 16, 2014,
from http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/ReadStrat8.html
Kear, D., Coffman, G., McKenna, M., & Ambrosio, A. (2000). Measuring Attitude Toward Writing: A New Tool for
Teachers? The Reading Teacher, 54(1).
Reading A-Z: Leveled Reading. (n.d.). Retrieved October 17, 2014, from
www.readinga-z.com/samples/leveled-reading.html
Wokanick, D. (n.d.). Reading Interest Inventory K-3. Retrieved October 7, 2014, from
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Interest-Inventory-K-3-1043671b