Reading Comprehension Strategies for Elementary Students with Learning Disabilities

Abstract

This study provided an overview of research focused on using analyzing texture structure and graphic organizers as reading comprehension strategies, as well as examined the success of these strategies with second grade students with learning disabilities. The Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) test was used as the determining factor for the achievement of the participants. The study involved eight participant’s scores from the MAP assessment in spring of 2019, the fall of 2019 and then the winter of 2020. Analyzing texture structure provided the students with a framework on understanding the common elements such as plot, character, setting, and theme. Graphic organizers help students recall main ideas and important facts, organize their thoughts without doing a lot of writing, and through visual aids make connections between concepts and how they relate to each other. Incorporating analyzing texture structure and graphic organizers into instruction explicitly taught students with learning disabilities (LD) how to use these strategies to enhance their reading comprehension. There was notable improvement in the MAP reading results from the fall of 2019 to the winter of 2020 in comparison to the spring of 2019 to the fall of 2019. Research in reading comprehension strategies should continue with LD students due to their difficulties in reading and understanding what they are reading.