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Needs Assessment Cycle

Liana Anderson
CUR/528
April 26, 2015
Professor Siddeeqah Johnson

Abstract
This needs assessment project was developed to examine the advantages of an
Accelerated Reading program on ESL fifth grade students. The assessment was also developed to
determine if a customized reading program would improve the students reading comprehension
and proficiency level. The Accelerated Reading program serves as a solution method to enhance
the reading level of this selected group of students.

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Accelerating ESL Fifth Grade Students Reading Progress

Purpose of the Program

The purpose of this program is to identify whether ESL fifth grade learners can benefit
from an accelerating reading program that will accommodate their academic needs. The purpose
of this program is to also open communication between the Board of Education and the
educators to help improve the reading progression of ESL fifth grade learners.
Action Goal
The goal of the intervention is to implement an accelerating reading program for ESL
fifth grade learners to accommodate and facilitate the proper tools needed to improve the reading
level for this particular group of learners. A three-prong intervention will be implemented to
meet the goal, which includes program development, ESL reading teacher training, and screen
for ESL fifth grade student participants in order to obtain reading comprehension and
proficiency.
Support Documentation (Appendix A)
The documentation used to measure the ESL fifth grade learners attitudes towards
reading and their overall satisfaction with their reading progression. The educators will be
required to provide this particular group of learners a satisfaction survey that will help to
determine whether they can benefit from an accelerating reading program.
This survey is intended to analyze and measure a significant increase in ESL fifth graders
reading level and an increase in the quantity of students reading. It is important for the survey to
detect whether there is an improvement in these learners behaviors and attitudes toward reading.
These selected groups of students will be informed that they are participating in a student
satisfaction survey.

The purpose of this survey is to identify the methods, policies, and strategies that will
help improve the reading progression of ESL fifth grade learners. An accelerated reader program
will be developed based upon the feedback received by the ESL fifth grade students on the
survey. The intended results of the survey are based on several multicultural needs factors such
as motivation, comprehension level, barriers of language, communication, and individual
learning style.
Selected Solutions/Calendar Plan (Appendix B & C)
Several possible solutions will provide support to attain the desired outcomes of program
effectiveness, preparing ESL reading teachers to provide the proper tools for improving reading
comprehension and proficiency, and properly screening ESL fifth grade student participants to
meet their academic needs.
Prior to the start of the accelerating reading program in January, previous formulated
reading test scores will be collected from the students teacher to indicate their individual reading
comprehension level and reading proficiency. These test scores will be evaluated in order to
screen for participants who may benefit from an accelerating reading program. All ESL fifth
grade students with low test scores in reading will have completed a student satisfaction survey
to identify whether they are satisfied with their current reading level. Then, a Parent Informed
Consent Letter will be given to the parents of the selected ESL fifth grade students to inform
them of the program and to receive their consent for their child to participate in the reading
program.
One week before classes begin in January, parents and students will attend a group
orientation. At this orientation, parents and students will be informed that the accelerating

reading program begins in January at the beginning of every new year and ends in the month of
April. It is a total of 80 hours which consists of 5 hours per week excluding weekends or
holidays. Results will be evaluated by providing parents with weekly progress reports to inform
them of their childs reading progression. The director of the accelerating ESL fifth grade reading
program, along with the certified ESL reading teachers will explain the expectations of the
services provided by the program other main points to meet the academic needs of this particular
group of learners.
At the end of the orientation, the Parent Informed Consent Letter will be collected from
the parents in which will be kept in a secure file cabinet with their student records. This
orientation will provide the parents the opportunity to ask questions or concerns they may have
pertaining to the reading program.
The first session of the accelerating reading program will consist of giving the students
vocabulary exercises, group reading activities, spelling tests to ensure comprehension of word
definition and pronunciation, complete timed readings to develop proficiency, and read
short stories to answer questions pertaining to the reading material. This strategy will be repeated
continuously throughout the duration of the program with minor adjustments based on feedback
received from the students fifth grade classroom teacher of their reading test scores.
Each ESL reading instructor in the program will be monitoring the students reading
progression in order to formulate weekly progress reports given to the parents and to the
students classroom teacher. Open communication will be established with the parent and
classroom teacher in order to provide the student with the adequate tools to enhance their reading
progression.

Appendix A: Pre and Post Project Student Survey

Student ESL Fifth Grade Reading Satisfaction Survey
Instructions Circle the number that best fits your answer on how you feel about reading.
5- Strongly Agree 4- Agree 3- No Opinion 2- Disagree 1- Strongly Disagree
1. I am content with my reading level.
5

2. I enjoy reading in the English language.

5

3. I would like to participate in a reading program.

5

4. I would like to participate in reading group activities.

5

5. I would enjoy having a tutor to help me with my reading.

5

6. I enjoy reading books in the school library.

5

7. I am satisfied with the reading books in my classroom.

5

8. I would find it enjoyable if my teacher could spend extra time with me in reading.
5

9. I would be satisfied joining a reading group with other ESL students.

5

10. I would enjoy a reading program that helps me to read better.

5

Appendix B: Parent Informed Consent Letter

Liana Anderson
Elementary School Name
Elementary School address
Date
Parent or Guardian
Address
To the Parents or Guardian of ________,
Your child has been selected to participate in an Accelerating ESL Fifth Grade Reading Program
to accommodate and facilitate the proper tools needed to improve the reading level for your
child. Your support on this program is critical to improve the overall reading comprehension and
proficiency of your child.
By signing this letter and returning it, you are giving consent for your child to participate in the
Accelerating ESL Fifth Grade Reading Program. Detailed information about the program will be
given at the group orientation in which parents and students will be required to attend.
I agree to the programs policies and procedures and will welcome communication to help my
child succeed in the program.
Parents Name (Print) ________________________________
Signature_________________________________________

Respectfully,
Liana Anderson

Appendix C: Overview of Reading Program

Overview of the Four Months/80 Hours for ESL Fifth Grade Reading Program
January
20 hours

February
20 hours

March
20 hours

April
20 hours

Total = 80 Hours/4 Months

Unit One- Vocabulary

This month will be focused on strengthening
vocabulary including grammar/pronunciation
of words and the definitions through individual
exercises.
Unit Two- Reading Comprehension
This month will be focused on strengthening
reading comprehension by completing
individual and group exercise activities that
consists of reading short story passages and
answering questions pertaining to the reading
material.
Unit Three- Reading Proficiency
This month will be focused on strengthening
reading proficiency by completing individual
and group exercise activities that consists of
reading grade level books and identifying the
main idea of the reading material.
Unit Four- Review of Reading Vocabulary,
Comprehension and Proficiency
This month will be focused on reviewing
overall material learned in reading program to
ensure students have mastered reading
vocabulary, comprehension and proficiency.