Kristen McMaster

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of Data-Based Instruction: Tools, Learning and Collaborative Support (DBI-TLC), aimed at improving teachers' use of data to promote positive outcomes for children with intensive early writing needs. Although writing is critical to students' success in school and afterwards, little is known about effective ways to support teachers in improving outcomes of students who experience significant writing difficulties. Data-based instruction (DBI)...

Learning to write is critical to students' overall literacy development. Writing provides students with the means to communicate what they know and is important for integrating knowledge and critical thinking. Beyond the K-12 school years, lack of writing proficiency can have a serious impact on postsecondary and employment opportunities. Improving student writing outcomes is particularly important for students with or at risk for disabilities that affect writing. Researchers found that only...

The National Assessment of Educational Progress indicates that 33 percent of 4th graders and 26 percent of 8th graders read below a basic proficiency level. Further, research indicates that 80 percent of students with learning disabilities have severe reading difficulties. Late elementary school, when comprehension of more challenging content is required, is a time when some students first begin to develop reading difficulties. Therefore, this project focuses on addressing this problem in fo...