Double Journal Entry Action Research Part 2

1.      What is the problem?

Students are having difficulty recognizing rhyme and word families in text.

2.      What is the rationale for the project?

Basic literacy skills have been identified as a goal in the school’s Strategic Plan.  According to the principal and host teacher at the school, students struggle with recognizing rhyme and word families.  According to research (Allen, 1996) rhyming games can help students improve their recognition of rhyme and word families in text.

3.      What strategy will be used to address this problem?

Simulations and Games; rhyming games will be used with the students.

4.      What is the question?

How can I use a variety of rhyming games to help my students recognize rhyme and word families in text?

5.      What evidence is presented that the strategy will work?

According to the research (Wylie and Durrell, 1970) children learn words more easily by the use of “rhyming phonograms” as opposed to decoding rules.  In the research report Integrated Strategies Approach:  Making Word Identification Instruction Work for Beginning Readers, rhyming games and activities were identified as aiding rhyme development and recognition.

6.      How will data be collected?

A pre/post test will be given at the beginning and end of the study, as well as an attitude survey.  Throughout the study work samples will be collected and analyzed, and the teacher will observe the children playing the games with a checklist.