WWC review of this study

Evaluating the effectiveness of Read Well Kindergarten.

Gunn, B., Smolkowski, K., & Vadasy, P. (2011). Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 4(1), 53–86. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ911535

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    1,405
     Students
    , grade
    K

Reviewed: February 2023

At least one finding shows moderate evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards with reservations
Letter identification outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Letter Sound Knowledge

Read Well Kindergarten vs. Business as usual

7 Months

Full sample;
1,405 students

21.93

20.60

Yes

 
 
9
 

Letter Name Knowledge

Read Well Kindergarten vs. Business as usual

7 Months

Full sample;
1,405 students

24.60

24.10

Yes

 
 
5
 
Phonology outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing

Read Well Kindergarten vs. Business as usual

7 Months

Full sample;
1,405 students

5.00

5.00

No

--
Word reading  outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Decodable Words

Read Well Kindergarten vs. Business as usual

7 Months

Full sample;
1,405 students

7.95

5.10

Yes

 
 
27
 

Sight Words

Read Well Kindergarten vs. Business as usual

7 Months

Full sample;
1,405 students

6.81

5.40

Yes

 
 
18
 

Woodcock Reading Mastery Test - Revised: Word Attack

Read Well Kindergarten vs. Business as usual

7 Months

Full sample;
1,405 students

7.00

6.10

Yes

 
 
5
 

Woodcock Reading Mastery Test - Revised: Word Identification

Read Well Kindergarten vs. Business as usual

7 Months

Full sample;
1,405 students

13.06

12.00

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.


  • Rural, Suburban
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    New Mexico, Oregon

Setting

The study took place in suburban and rural settings in New Mexico and Oregon.

Intervention Group

Teachers implemented the Read Well Kindergarten reading program with groups of 2 to 8 students. Sessions included decoding practice and story reading. They also focused on vocabu­lary, phonological awareness, alphabetic understanding, and decoding. The inter­vention involved 20-minute sessions daily for 7 months.

Comparison Group

Teachers taught their regular lessons.

Reviewed: June 2016

Meets WWC standards with reservations


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

Study sample characteristics were not reported.
 

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