Effects of Personalized Learning on Kindergarten and First Grade Students' Early Literacy Skills

摘要

The Waterford Early Reading Program is a computer-assisted instruction program that ensures individualized learning for kindergarten through second grade students. The Waterford curriculum was assigned to kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students in a school district in South Carolina for the 2015-2016 school year. The Developmental Reading Assessment was administered to students at the end of the fall, winter, and spring terms to assess reading skills. Analysis revealed statistically significant end of year scores made by kindergarten students and statistically significant gains made by first grade students with high usage of the Waterford Early Reading Program, indicating that Waterford curriculum improves early literacy skills.