The Evaluation of Intensive Reading Instruction at Fifth Grade Students
A Mixed Methods Approach
Keywords:
Instructional evaluation, Intensive reading, Classroom observation, Mixed MethodsAbstract
Intensive reading instruction plays a crucial role in developing elementary students’ basic literacy. However, its effectiveness is often inadequately evaluated due to limited instruments that capture both learning processes and outcomes. This study aims t o analyze the quality of intensive reading instruction through the integration of classroom observation and standardized tests as a holistic evaluation strategy. A mixed - methods approach with a convergent parallel design was employed, where qualitative and quantitative data were collected simultaneously, analyzed separately, and then integrated. Participants included 12 fifth - grade students and one teacher, selected through purposive sampling for the teacher and total sampling for students. Qualitative data were gathered via structured observations and semi - structured interviews, while quantitative data were obtained through standardized reading tests. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns of interaction, reading strategies, and student engagement, while quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using averages and score distributions. The findings indicate that learning effectiveness is influenced by consistent reading strategies, clear objectives, and varied literacy activities. The integration of both data types provides a comprehensive and accurate evaluation of instructional quality, offering valuable insights for improving literacy practices in elementary education.
References
Allington, R. L. (2012). What really matters for struggling readers: Designing research-based programs (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Brookhart, S. M., & Nitko, A. J. (2023). Educational assessment of students (9th ed.). Pearson.
Cervetti, G. N., Damico, J. S., & Pearson, P. D. (2020). Developing reading comprehension: What works and why. New York: Routledge.
Connor, C. M., Son, S.-H., Hindman, A. H., & Morrison, F. J. (2021). Teacher-child interactions and reading comprehension: Evidence from early grades. Reading Research Quarterly, 56(S1), S123–S145. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.411
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2021). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (6th ed.). Sage Publications.
Duke, N. K., & Cartwright, K. B. (2021). The science of reading progresses: A review of scientific evidence and implications for reading instruction. Reading Research Quarterly, 56(S1), S25–S44. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.411
Duke, N. K. (2021). Reading comprehension instruction in elementary school: Evidence-based approaches. Guilford Press.
Duke, N. K., Purcell-Gates, V., Hall, L., & Tower, C. (2021). Examining text-based reading practices in elementary classrooms. Reading Research Quarterly, 56(S1), S45–S68. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.411
Fetters, M. D., & Molina-Azorín, J. F. (2020). The SAGE handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioral research (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
Filderman, M., Kim, J., & Duke, N. K. (2023). Challenges in implementing intensive reading instruction in elementary schools. Journal of Literacy Research, 55(2), 145–167. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086296X23100201
Fredricks, J. A., Blumenfeld, P. C., & Paris, A. H. (2004). School engagement: Potential of the concept, state of the evidence. Review of Educational Research, 74(1), 59–109. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543074001059
Fountas, I. C., & Pinnell, G. S. (2017). The Fountas & Pinnell literacy continuum: A tool for assessment, planning, and teaching. Heinemann.
Goldman, S. R., Britt, M. A., & Rouet, J.-F. (2022). Reading comprehension assessment: Current challenges and directions. Educational Psychologist, 57(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2021.2006702
Guthrie, J. T., & Wigfield, A. (2000). Engagement and motivation in reading. Handbook of Reading Research, 3, 403–422.
Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2017). Cooperation and the use of technology (2nd ed.). Edina, MN: Interaction Book Company.
Kim, J., Duke, N. K., & Filderman, M. (2022). Teacher practices in comprehension instruction: Observational evidence from elementary classrooms. Reading Research Quarterly, 57(4), 625–650. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.466
Lupo, S. M., Reutzel, D. R., & Smith, J. A. (2023). Teacher questioning and reading comprehension in elementary grades: Evidence from classroom observation. Journal of Literacy Research, 55(3), 210–234. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086296X23100202
McMaster, K. L., Hwang, H., & Duffy-Hester, A. M. (2023). Scaffolding inferential and critical comprehension in elementary students: Strategies and outcomes. Reading Psychology, 44(2), 152–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/02702711.2022.2145678
Moss, P., Brookhart, S., & Long, B. (2021). Classroom assessment in practice: Developing quality assessments and understanding learning. Routledge.
Mullis, I. V. S., Martin, M. O., Foy, P., & Hooper, M. (2023). Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021 assessment framework and results. TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, Boston College.
OECD. (2023). PISA 2022 Results: Volume I – What students know and can do. OECD Publishing.
Okkinga, M., van Steensel, R., & van Gelderen, A. (2021). Effects of intensive reading programs on elementary students’ comprehension and engagement. Reading and Writing, 34(1), 65–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-020-10088-7
Pianta, R. C., Hamre, B. K., & Allen, J. P. (2020). Teacher-student relationships and student outcomes: The role of classroom assessment. Educational Psychologist, 55(4), 293–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2020.1764256
Rahman, A. Y., Aida, N. A., Saefuddin, A., Rohmah, S. K., & Muhamadi, S. I. (2025). Pop-Up Book to Improve Reading Skills in Indonesian Language Learning at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah. MUDARRISA: Jurnal Kajian Pendidikan Islam, 17(2), 220-239. https://doi.org/10.18326/mudarrisa.v17i2.4347
Reutzel, D. R., Smith, J. A., & Fawson, P. (2022). Teacher-student interactions and reading comprehension in elementary classrooms. Literacy Research and Instruction, 61(1), 23–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/19388071.2021.2000010
Shanahan, T., Lomax, R., & Edelsky, C. (2020). Balancing process and outcomes in reading research. Reading Research Quarterly, 55(2), 135–158. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.323
Ueno, K., Anderson, R., & Griffin, P. (2022). Meta-analysis of intensive reading interventions in primary education. Review of Educational Research, 92(3), 375–410. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543221095678
Zhang, L., & Wu, Y. (2020). Developing higher-order reading skills in elementary students: The role of teacher questioning and scaffolding. Reading and Writing, 33(7), 1835–1856. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-020-10054-4
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Dede Ginanjar Ginanjar, Yeni Yuniarti, Ai Sutini

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access)





