WWC review of this study

Effects of a Cross-Age Peer Learning Program on the Vocabulary and Comprehension of English Learners and Non-English Learners in Elementary School

Silverman, Rebecca D.; Martin-Beltran, Melinda; Peercy, Megan M.; Hartranft, Anna M.; McNeish, Daniel M.; Artzi, Lauren; Nunn, Stephanie (2017). Elementary School Journal, v117 n3 p485-512. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1138132

  • Quasi-Experimental Design
     examining 
    442
     Students
    , grades
    K-4

Reviewed: September 2022

At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards with reservations
Comprehension outcomes—Substantively important positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Comprehension test - kindergarten (COMP-K) (researcher-designed)

Martha’s True Stories Buddies Program vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: K; English learners;
101 students

N/A

N/A

No

--
Show Supplemental Findings

Comprehension test - grade four (COMP-4) (researcher designed)

Martha’s True Stories Buddies Program vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: 4; native English speakers;
190 students

N/A

N/A

Yes

 
 
20

Comprehension test - kindergarten (COMP-K) (researcher-designed)

Martha’s True Stories Buddies Program vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: K; native English speakers;
102 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests (GMRT): Comprehension subtest

Martha’s True Stories Buddies Program vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: 4; native English speakers;
191 students

N/A

N/A

No

--
English language proficiency outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT, 4th edition)

Martha’s True Stories Buddies Program vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: K; English learners;
97 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests (GMRT): Vocabulary subtest

Martha’s True Stories Buddies Program vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: 4; English learners;
48 students

N/A

N/A

No

--
Show Supplemental Findings

Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT, 4th edition)

Martha’s True Stories Buddies Program vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: K; native English speakers;
99 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests (GMRT): Vocabulary subtest

Martha’s True Stories Buddies Program vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: 4; native English speakers;
188 students

N/A

N/A

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • 33% English language learners

  • Other or unknown: 100%

  • Suburban
  • Race
    Black
    25%
    Other or unknown
    71%
    White
    4%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    63%
    Other or unknown    
    37%
  • Eligible for Free and Reduced Price Lunch
    Free or reduced price lunch (FRPL)    
    83%
    No FRPL    
    17%

Setting

The study took place in four Title 1 elementary schools in a suburban public school district in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Study sample

A total of 203 kindergartners and 239 grade four students were included in the study. The 442 students in elementary schools were taught by 22 classroom teachers in 24 classrooms in four schools. Approximately 83% were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and 70% were Limited English Proficient. Twenty-five percent were Black, 4% were White, and 71% did not report race. Sixty-three percent were Hispanic or Latino, and 27% did not report ethnicity.

Intervention Group

Martha’s True Stories Buddies Program is a paired, cross-age tutoring program that aims to increase students’ vocabulary and comprehension. It was adapted from the Martha Speaks Reading Buddies Program but includes extra supports for English learners and a focus on comprehension in addition to vocabulary. Each week for 14 weeks, students participated in a 30-minute lesson, during which the classroom teacher provided instruction on specific vocabulary words and learning strategies for vocabulary and comprehension. On the day following the lesson each week, each kindergarten student met with a paired student in grade four (called a "buddy") for 45 minutes. During the session, the grade four student led their kindergarten buddy through a series of activities that included watching a video or reading text, reviewing vocabulary, and doing a writing or drawing activity that aimed at helping them learn vocabulary and comprehension.

Comparison Group

Students in the comparison group received business-as-usual instruction in vocabulary and comprehension and did not engage in cross-age peer learning. Teachers used the same curricula for vocabulary and comprehension as teachers in intervention group classrooms.

Support for implementation

The research team led a day-long training session for teachers to prepare them to implement the intervention. Teachers were provided with an intervention guide and other learning materials and attended ongoing planning sessions during the intervention. Six specialists, who were also trained in the intervention, supported teachers in the intervention classrooms during cross-age sessions.

 

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