Effects of Differentiated Reading on Elementary Students’ Reading Comprehension and Attitudes Toward Reading

In this investigation, we examined the effects of a differentiated reading approach on fourth grade students’ reading comprehension and attitudes toward reading. Eight Title I schools within one urban district were randomly assigned to treatment (Schoolwide Enrichment Model–Reading SEM-R) or control (district reading curriculum) conditions. Treatment teachers implemented SEM-R as a supplement to the district curriculum for 1 academic year, whereas control teachers used the district curriculum. Based on multilevel analyses of students’ posttest reading comprehension scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills ( n = 358) and attitudes toward reading as measured by the Elementary Reading Attitudes Survey ( n = 429), no statistically significant differences in students’ attitudes toward reading were found, but SEM-R students had significantly higher scores on the comprehension posttest compared with the students in the control schools.