Understanding the English Literacy Development of Linguistically Diverse Middle School Readers Using Collaborative Retrospective Miscue Analysis

Abstract

This qualitative, single case study of linguistically diverse sixth-grade students to understand how these students explored and experienced their English literacy development (ELD) by using Retrospective Miscue Analysis (RMA) and Collaborative Retrospective Miscue Analysis (CRMA). In addition, the study explored the roles that families and teachers played in readers’ ELD. Eight student participants were chosen using purposive sampling to participate in the study. Four teacher participants and five adult family members of the student participants also volunteered to participate in the study. Multiple data were collected using student, family member, and teacher interviews; oral readings, aided and unaided retellings; RMA and CRMA sessions; and classroom observations. Additionally, two student participants participated in an eye movement miscue analysis session and follow-up discussion. The findings revealed how linguistically diverse sixth-grade readers understand their experiences and perceive themselves as diverse readers, their co-construction of knowledge, and their ELD. Findings also illustrated the multiple roles the students’ families and teachers play in the development of their ELD. Implications of the study include the benefits of using RMA and CRMA with secondary linguistically diverse readers, the complexities that teachers face in supporting linguistically diverse readers, and the inclusion of families and their home literacy practices in learning spaces.