Scientific Research on Student Learning with Great Books Middle School Programs
Students improved their literal and abstract reading comprehension.
Blanton, W. E., Wood, K. D., & Taylor, D. B. (2007). Rethinking middle school reading instruction: A basic literacy activity. Reading Psychology, 28(1), 75–95.
Kelly, J. (1996). Junior Great Books Summary of Program Implementation and Evaluation, 1995–1996. Report generated for Castleberry Independent School District, River Oaks, TX.
Waters, K. C. (2010). Literacy initiatives in the urban setting that promote higher level thinking. In Collins, J. L., & Gunning, T. G. (Eds.), Building struggling students’ higher level literacy: Practical ideas, powerful solutions. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Students improved their critical thinking and higher-level reasoning skills.
Kelly, J. (1996). Junior Great Books Summary of Program Implementation and Evaluation, 1995–1996. Report generated for Castleberry Independent School District, River Oaks, TX.
Murphy, P. K., Wilkinson, I. A. G., Soter, A. O., Hennessey, M. N., & Alexander, J. F. (2009). Examining the effects of classroom discussion on students’ comprehension of text: A meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101(3), 740–764.
Soter, A. O., Wilkinson, I. A., Murphy, P. K., Rudge, L., Reninger, K., & Edwards, M. (2008). What the discourse tells us: Talk and indicators of high-level comprehension. International Journal of Educational Research, 47, 372–391.
Wheelock, A. (1999). Junior Great Books: Reading for meaning in urban schools. Educational Leadership, 57(2), 47–50.
Students improved their expository writing in response to literature.
Graup, L. B. (1985). Response to literature: Student-generated questions and collaborative learning as related to comprehension. Ed.D. dissertation, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY.
Students improved their attitudes toward reading as a result of sharing ideas in a respectful, collaborative atmosphere.
Blanton, W. E., Wood, K. D., & Taylor, D. B. (2007). Rethinking middle school reading instruction: A basic literacy activity. Reading Psychology, 28(1), 75–95.
Wheelock, A. (1999). Junior Great Books: Reading for meaning in urban schools. Educational Leadership, 57(2), 47–50.
