Date of Award
1-1978
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Education
First Advisor
John McClusky
Second Advisor
William Beillie
Abstract
Mary T. Powell’s 1978 thesis, Diagnostic Strategies: Suggested Procedures to Identify and Evaluate Reading Problems of the Middle Grade Student, explores methods for diagnosing and addressing reading difficulties among fourth to sixth grade students. Drawing on her experience teaching in a low socioeconomic urban school, Powell outlines a range of factors contributing to reading disabilities, including physical, psychological, intellectual, and environmental causes. She emphasizes the importance of early identification and individualized diagnosis, highlighting tools such as intelligence tests, oral reading inventories, and teacher observation checklists.
A central focus of the study is the development of decoding skills—often referred to as word recognition or word attack strategies. Powell details practical, multisensory methods like the Fernald Tracing Method to help struggling readers recognize words and retain vocabulary. She stresses the value of reinforcing foundational reading skills before students can fully benefit from content-area learning. Through case studies and analysis, Powell advocates for tailored instructional strategies, remedial support, and improved teacher training in diagnostic reading instruction.
Ultimately, the thesis aims to equip educators with specific, research-informed procedures to identify struggling readers and provide them with meaningful support—reducing the risk of long-term academic failure and addressing broader concerns about national literacy levels.
Recommended Citation
Powell, Mary T., "Diagnostic Strategies: Suggested Procedures to Identify and Evaluate Reading Problems of the Middle Grade Student" (1978). Theses. 1338.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/1338
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