Contribution to Book
Assessing second language students’ silent reading ability: Problems, perils, and promising directions
Revisiting Silent Reading: New Directions for Teachers and Researchers
(2010)
Abstract
The number of English learners (Els) in U.S. schools has increased dramatically
over the last several decades (Montero &: Kuhn, 2009). Els struggle to
attain high levels of literacy in U.S. schools for a variety of reasons. Failure
to attain high levels of literacy often results in high dropout rates, unemployment
or underemployment, and poverty for Els (Kindler, 2002; National Center for
Education Statistics, 2004). As a result of these factors, an increased focus on understanding
and assessing the literacy development of Els is urgently needed.
The report of the National Literacy Panel on language-Minority Children and
Youth (August &: Shanahan, 2006) represents one of the first comprehensive efforts
in the United States to collect and synthesize the findings of research focused
on how second-language learners become readers and writers of English. One of
the unfortunate outcomes, depending on one's point of view, found within the
pages of this report was the persistent and general admission that the empirical
research base in relation to developing Els' literacy in English is fragile in terms
of both quality and quantity. A more positive view on this lack of an empirical
research base would be that there is plenty of room for more research on how to
effectively develop Els' English print literacy.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2010
Editor
E. H. Hiebert & D. R. Reutzel
Publisher
TextProject, Inc.
Publisher Statement
This is a chapter from Revisiting Silent Reading: New Directions for Teachers and Researchers (2010) 258.
Citation Information
Gary Ockey and D. Ray Reutzel. "Assessing second language students’ silent reading ability: Problems, perils, and promising directions" Santa Cruz, CARevisiting Silent Reading: New Directions for Teachers and Researchers (2010) p. 258 - 274 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/gary-ockey/1/
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